Move against the bandits with the might of the Roman Legion.

Finally, you nod. "Yes. I am. Assemble all the men you can gather, Adolphus, and send a message to the Legion. We're moving against them today."

By mid-afternoon, you're standing before a crowd of men gathered from your estate and the nearby lands; landowners, slaves, and servants, a motley mix, to be sure, but they seem eager to take down these bandits that have been plaguing their home. You wear {if Armor Held = True}your armor {if Helm Held = True}and helm{endif}{else}your best toga{endif} and carry{if Gladius Held = True} your sword. The rest of the men are not so well-equipped; most of them are bearing simple spears, daggers, and even the occasional tool repurposed as a weapon. There are a number of hatchets and adzes. But they'll do the job.{else} a simple spear. Most of the men you've gathered are similarly equipped; they're not professional soldiers, and you see a number of daggers and even tools - hatchets and adzes - repurposed to kill.{endif}

More impressive is the perfectly square group of Roman Legionnaires formed up in front of you; not a full centuria or anything like that, but a tight group of four contubernia - a little more than 30 men. Optio Felix smiles as he sees your eyes widen as you look over the gleaming armor, polished spears, and hefty shields of the assembled soldiers.

"My centurion sends his greetings, Lord Gaius Lentillus," the Optio says cheerily. "And his thanks for pinpointing the location of the bandits' camp. He's eager to see them eliminated once and for all. I appreciate you gathering your own men, but...if you don't mind my saying...it was probably unnecessary."

You eye him, smarting slightly. "Well, you can't blame me for doing so. After all, the Legion has so far not managed to destroy these bandits..."

Felix holds his hands out placatingly. "You're not wrong there, Lord Gaius. But sometimes all it takes is a push from someone local - someone invested - to get the machinery of the military moving. Your push was essential, but we're ready to help you now. Please; I invite you to stay by my side and keep abreast of events."

You nod. "Very well, then. Do we know where they are?"

The Optio smirks. "My scouts have already found the cave. The bandits will never know what hit them. We can move out when you're ready."

The Optio proves prescient - the outside of the cave, at least, offers little resistance. Your heart beats like a drum as you charge into the battle, but in truth the first skirmish is over in moments; there are just a handful of men outside the cave, and the coordinated strike by the Legion obliterates them. As you head into the caverns themselves, though, side-by-side with Felix, you find yourself having to keep your weapon to hand, as the battle with the main **** of the bandits is joined!