Legionnaire's Trail

You're the third emperor of Rome

whom I've served.

First there was Caligula,

then Claudius,

and now you, Nero.

You send General Lucius Caesennius Paetus

to defend Armenia against the might of Parthia?

I'm the one who invaded Armenia in the first place.

I don't goddamn believe it.

I don't fucking believe it!

What's goin' on?

I should be the one to repel the Parthians,

not that cocksure Paetus.

And you order me to safeguard what, Syria?

From who?

Parthians are besieging our legions in Armenia.

And there's a heavy winter coming.

You better hope, Emperor, that the power of Rome

rests solely, not in the hands of your appointed generals,

but in the hearts of those anonymous soldiers

who make up your legions.

Oh.

Proceed, Marcus.

What is the latest?

A new message from the Parthians.

They demand we surrender.

They give us three days.

They guarantee we will not be killed if...

Burn it.

Surrender is not an option.

- General... - I said no!

Damn it.

The Parthians control the pass.

The Scythians have cut off our supply route here.

If we don't get help, we'll die of starvation.

Do you also think that this is all my fault,

for making camp

in a place that can easily be besieged?

That this is all the result of my incompetence?

This is no time to look back.

We're in no position to sustain a prolonged siege.

Our own men remain loyal, but the mercenaries

- have deserted. - God damn mercenaries.

Any word from Corbulo?

I sent three of my best men as emissaries.

They all chose separate routes.

But the mountains are thick

with enemies familiar with our plans.

They all failed.

There is one final option.

Take the only route the enemy will not expect us to take.

A handful of well-prepared men

could scale the ravine.

Once in the forest, it's a seven-day

forest march to Syria and Corbulo's scouts.

Are you telling me, Marcus,

that a few of our men,

exhausted and starving to death,

will be able to scale a cliff,

walk and run through the forest,

battle the enemy,

and reach Syria in just a few days?

Precisely.

I can see that I'm not the only one who has lost his head.

It's the only route

that will not be crawling with the enemy.

Meanwhile, we can make them believe

we're contemplating the terms of the surrender.

Corbulo, that bastard.

I never imagined that my greatest political foe

would one day be my only hope for survival.

And what if, after all this...

he refuses to come to our aid?

It's a risk we have to take.

The route is impossible.

Have you already considered

whom to entrust with this lunacy?

He is a soldier,

raised in the mountains of North Hispania.

Excellent climber and fighter.

Highly revered by the auxiliary cohorts.

Auxiliary cohorts?

He might desert.

He is a soldier.

Loyal to Rome.

There are others, younger, stronger.

But none with his capacity to endure.

What's his name?

They call him Noreno.

Do you think he will do it?

If it's an order, he'll obey it to the end.

Yes, an order.

Duty.

A soldier's lot is nothing but to obey orders,

to fight and sacrifice one's life

without thinking.

What is hard is to make decisions.

They must leave tonight.

We are all already dead, Marcus.

Your plan is impossible.

I can already see Corbulo

as he hears the news of my defeat,

the outcome of my strategic blunder.

His smile.

We are going to need great assistance from the gods,

if we are basing our hopes

on a mountain man.

But if the gods are willing...

so be it.

Sir, Noreno the soldier is here.

Noreno.

You called for me, sir.

You've been selected

to deliver a message to General Corbulo.

The others failed

because they chose a wrong route.

You'll go by one the enemy does not expect.

Through the ravine.

Sir,

what you ask of me is impossible.

Impossible or not, that's our only chance

to survive.

I am aware of your qualities.

I didn't select you for your obvious skills.

You were chosen because of your rare capacity to endure.

If anyone can succeed...

it's you.

We have provisions for only two more days.

If the enemy doesn't kill us, then...

the lack of food or the cold will.

The entire Roman legion

destroyed, disgraced.

You must succeed.

- When do I leave? - Now.

When you leave the camp,

run straight for the ravine.

Scale its walls. Once in the forest, head southwest

till you hit Syria and Corbulo's scouts.

Help me return to Rome.

Help me see my son.

I will do my best.

When you reach Corbulo, give him this.

That parchment bears Paetus' seal.

Oh, may the gods protect you.

Go out from here and run

as if Hades himself were pursuing you.

For Rome!

I'm sorry, my friend!

Go!

Run!

Come on.

No!

Si?

Another idiotic Roman

who believes he can cross these terraces to seek help.

What do I do with him, Saka?

Damn proud Romans.

When are they ever going to stop?

Their pride is what makes them great.

They can't go far.

Look over there.

Here.

Here's the famous ravine.

Go!

Two of the Romans are dead.

The other scaled the cliff face.

That route is impossible.

Nothing is impossible

if you have the will to survive.

They're just deserters.

They sacrificed themselves so that he could succeed.

He's making his way to Corbulo.

The Persians pay us to kill Romans, not to let them escape.

Madyes, you and Saulio make your way to the river.

He'll have to cross it eventually.

I'll send word to the Persians.

Yeah, for now.

So Claudius, tell me,

how far have you traveled to arrive at the frontier?

Hibernia.

Hibernia?

That's the edge of the world.

What's a Celt doing at the Roman auxiliary?

I heard the pay was good.

Pay.

Like most children...

on the coast of Hibernia, I was captured

and taken to Britannia as a slave.

I was a game keeper's ward but...

they couldn't hold me.

He says do you... did you ever want to return home?

I was away from home too long.

I wanted to see the world.

So, I made my way to Gaul

and joined the auxiliary.

They've been the only family I've ever known.

And for that I'm thankful.

He says you should've gone to Hispania.

It's his land. Very beautiful there.

Um, I was raised by my grandfather in Hispania.