"I'm here to see Centurion Filotus."

The guard frowns slightly{if Adolphus Companion = true}, then sees Adolphus behind you and smiles. "Ah. You again, sir?"

"Me again," Adolphus says dourly. "And Lord Gaius Lentillus here, my employer and owner of one of the largest estates in the region. Whose taxes pay YOUR salary, soldier."

"Of course, of course." The guard nods{endif}. "Well, I'll inform him that you're here. One moment."

{if Adolphus Companion = true}While the guard is gone - leaving you with his companion at the gate - you turn to Adolphus. "I take it you're known here?"

Adolphus shrugs. "I've urged them to take action against the bandits before, certainly. At this point some of them recognize my face." He smiles at you. "I'm hoping that your status will help us move them to actual work, this time."{endif}

After a few moments, the guard returns and escorts you to one of the office buildings. Inside, you find yourself in a spartan but brightly lit office. The centurion, a stocky man nearing middle age, sits behind an impressive desk, talking with a slightly younger officer who stands beside him. When you enter, he glances up.

"Ah, young sir. You are Gaius Lentillus, I understand?" You nod. {if Adolphus Companion = true}He glances behind you and scowls slightly. "And Adolphus. Again." He clears his throat.{endif}"Well. I am Centurion Filotus, and this is my aide, Optio Felix. What can I do for you, young sir?"

You sit in the seat across the desk from him, trying to assume an air of easy command. "As you no doubt know, centurion, I'm one of the landholders in the region that you're sworn to protect. However, I've been hearing lately from my workers that there are bandits raiding the farms in this area, stealing both crops and workers. They seem to be operating with near-impunity! What's going on here?"

The centurion scowls at you. "You'll forgive me for saying so, sir, but hunting bandits is not nearly so simple as you might believe. I have received the reports - indeed, numerous times - of these bandits, and my legion is doing all it can to secure the land. But it's not a simple affair, by any means. They always seem to fade away before we can get to where we need to be, and no one knows where they're based - they seem to strike all over the countryside."

{if Adolphus Companion = true}"They're strangely well-equipped, too," Adolphus comments, "I hear they've decent armor and weapons, and horses - which explains how they get in and out so quickly."

The centurion scowls. "I've heard your claims, Adolphus. They're ridiculous. Don't you come spewing your nonsense to me again."

Adolphus sputters indignantly. "Nonsense?! You - you sit here behind your DESK, doing NOTHING, while bandits roam the countryside at will! I served my time in the Legion, and now I'm supposed to be able to relax and work the land - but I can't, because you aren't doing your job!"

The centurion purples. "How dare you, sir. You may have fought in some wars in your youth, but you are not in command of these men!" He turns to you angrily. "I have told you all I know, sir. I'm going to have to ask you to leave, now. We will find them, eventually." You can't help but feel that there's something he's not telling you - but he's certainly not going to listen to anything you say now.

{else}You frown. "Surely someone knows SOMETHING about these bandits. They must sell their ill-gotten goods somewhere, and people must have at least some sense of where they come from."

The centurion sighs and spreads his hands. "I wish it were that simple, young sir. For what it's worth, we think they're located somewhere in the northern quadrant of the region - but that's as far as we've been able to get, and even that is just a suspicion." He spreads his hands with a slightly oily smile. "I'm sorry, sir. I've told you all I know." You have a growing suspicion that's not true...but you certainly don't have any way to strongarm the information out of this goat.

"Well. If you do discover anything at all of use, I beg you to inform me," you say icily, standing. The centurion waves you off, already turning back to his aide.{endif}

{if Polyxena Companion = true}As you rise to go, you notice the centurion glance at Polyxena and smirk slightly, clearly appreciating her figure. A thought occurs to you...you might not be able to strongarm him, but perhaps he could be...persuaded to share more.{endif}