Before all that happened, there was a period of peace, when the Republic of Rome was at the height of its glory, and the people shared a peaceful and prosperous way of life. But all that was threatened by the arrival of a powerful enemy. Led by a fearsome and invincible general by the name of Masturbal, the enemy prepared to cross the Alps and descend on Italy, leaving devastation in its wake. Little did anyone know that this was naught but the onset of the tumultuous years later dubbed by historians as the Second Pubic War.
Hearing the news of Masturbal's arrival, the Senatus Romanum was forced to take a hasty vote. A Praetor by the name of Biggus Dickus was to raise a new crack legion with the task of reinforcing a recently-acquired stronghold of Mediolanum. That meant a draft -- a lot of Roman Citizens had to be summoned immediately. This also meant several days of auguries, feasts, and religious ceremonies at the consecration of a new Legion: Legio LXIX Penetratio Invincibilis. A pious and chaste maiden eighteen years of age by the name of Incontinentia was present at the religious proceedings on behalf of the College of Vestals.
Known for her beauty, intelligence, innocence, and generous bosom, Incontinentia was primarily noted for her love of the modest and chaste life. Incontinentia had never engaged in carnal acts or illicit acts of self-pleasure. This was about to change.
***
I was there on Campus Martius for every ceremony, augury, and rite, though the one in which the Legion's banner was doused in bull's blood mixed with semen and blessed with haruspex. After that, the Praetor would take over. He spoke of glory and victories to the assembled men. By his side stood a certain effeminate questor called Atticus. Everyone knew what it meant. He was to become the Praetor's military bed-warmer. Roman soldiers could not take their families with them for obvious reasons -- the primary one being that this would just distract them from their duties. The same applied to Praetors -- but one of certain social status can always take a "companion." It's common knowledge that in such cases a lot of carnal debauchery is to be expected.
I can't help myself but feel the impure wetness in my loins and a bittersweet longing at the sight of all the men around me. One of these tall, broad-shouldered, proud warriors could have been my husband -- but I eschewed this possibility when I vowed to serve Vesta more than a decade ago and maintain my chastity throughout the entire term of thirty years. The Goddess of the Hearth is also the Guardian of Maidenhood. As I stay in her service, it is impossible for me to marry -- only after my thirty-year term is over. Of course, such honor carries considerable merit with it: as long as I remain in the College, no man can as much as begin to treat me poorly or improperly.
Also, the service will elevate me in the ranks of Roman society. Everyone wants to marry an ex-Vestal, who holds considerable respect among the priesthood and the pious population of Rome. My father is very much a man of means but of low standing and birth -- a craftsman -- so I'd have never made a suitable bride for one of the aristocrats and their sons. So, there was that.
It is unusual for a Vestal Virgin to ever leave Rome, but the circumstances are dire. The Goddess's magic, enhanced by our vows of chastity, bestows the thaumaturgical ability to one of our Virginal College, one that could turn the tide of any battle in our favor. However, we are used as a last resort, when the very walls of Rome are in danger -- because we are too precious to die (or, even worse, be captured). No one wants to risk losing a Vestal in the chaos of battle. Thus, one can appraise the fear and trembling of the dignified men of the Senate who decided that it was proper and necessary for me to leave the sacred Penus and venture out to meet the barbarian horde!
Responsible for Legio LXIX's
sacrum
and hearth, I am set to accompany five thousand armed men and slaves to Mediolanum. My tasks are clear: perform all rites and prayers, perform healing wonders on the wounded, and make the enemies suffer terrible ill luck. The most crucial aspect of my duties, however, is to avoid any carnal pleasure and stay a maiden. This makes even the tiniest flirtation with a male member of my extended escort party an unthinkable offense -- no matter how handsome and strong they are. I could afford no touching, fondling, or rubbing of my loins, for these are all indecent pleasures that lead to debauchery, licentiousness, and ruin -- not only my life but the morale of an entire Legion, and the fate of Rome.
Not to mention that if a man ever were to be found with me, he would be killed on the spot, guilty of
incestum
-- as my sacred status makes me a daughter of all the Romans. As for my fate in that unfortunate case... Well, let us not dwell on such details. Let me just say that I've heard terrible stories of women being buried alive along with the corpse of the male offender. Or of another somber ceremony in which my entire term of service would be declared void, one that never happened, and my body defiled and desecrated by hundreds upon hundreds of depraved men with unnaturally big members... Okay, my impressionable imagination might have taken over in those details -- I never heard anything of such a ritual, but it wouldn't have been such a great surprise, I admit. It would be like my worst... nightmares coming to life.
So here I am, immersed in my lonely thoughts, as four strong, muscular, well-oiled slaves carry the curtained litter I am sitting in. We have been traveling north for about a week already. Before this long road to Mediolanum, I had to spend three days on Campus Martius following the consecration of the new Legion, overseeing auguries, ceremonies, and sacrifices. Pontifex Maximus, the most important priest in Rome, a man in his late sixties by the name of Gnaeus Potentius Magnus -- he was also set to attend. But the campaign started off-season, and his advanced age means that he's a bit slow to keep up. He did his duty for a couple of sacrifices and ceremonies -- he participated in the aforementioned blessing of our Legion's Banner and surprised everyone with his virility and copious measure of seed when wrestling with the bull. However, this left him exhausted and spend, so he retired to his Domus on the Aventine. The next day, it was said, he was attending to some urgent duties in the Senate, and a replacement arrived on his behalf: one Cato, also a
thaumaturge,
like me.