Campaign Timeline
While modern historians would list the starting year as 129 CE, to the Romans it was known as the Year of the Consulship of C. Sempronius Tuditanus and M' Aquillius. The Roman year also starts in February, so that convention is used below as well, and the month names and lengths are from the Julian Calendar.
Februarius (February)
XI Februarius - P. Clodianus receives his last letter from his friend Archeas Graduus in Alexandria, though he doesn't know it for some time.
Aprilis (April)
XIX Aprilis - The House of Aufidius purchases the contract of a new charioteer for their racing team: Ahearne of Britannia. Caeso Aufidius Arvina sees it as a sound investment while his older brother (and the head of the household) Quintus Aufidius Pollio sees it as a means of making connections to climb the social ladder.
Iulius (July)
IV Iulius - Few circuses in Italia are interested in an unaffiliated racer in their high profile races and Q. Aufidius is interested in nothing less. He convinces his brother K. Aufidius to take Ahearne to Alexandria in Egypt for the races of the Neptunalia. They set sail from Ostia with the courtesan-slave Palasan, the bodyguard Kashta, and the physician Theodorus.
XIX Iulius - The group from the House of Aufidius arrives in Alexandria barely in time for the Neptunalia celebrations. They stay in the house of the middle Aufidius brother, Aufidius Sallius.
XXI Iulius - After writing several letters in vain, P. Clodianus becomes convinced that something has happened to his friend Archeas Graduus in Alexandria. He begins making plans to travel there.
XIII and XIV Iulius - The festival of Neptune, the Neptunalia, is celebrated throughout the Empire. In Alexandria, chariot races are held which Ahearne participates in, winning several races and attracting the attention of several notables, to the delight of Q. Aufidius. The party from the House of Aufidius decides to stay in the city, despite a brawl between a group of Tyrian priests and Kushite warriors that nearly sees both brothers injured.
Augustus (August)
II Augustus - P. Clodianus hires a Samnite hunter T. Egnacius to accompany him to Alexandria.
XVI Augustus - After receiving little help from his legitimate acquaintances in Capua, P. Clodianus approaches "Mama" Nova Vitalia for assistance in securing a trustworthy guide in Alexandria.
XXI Augustus - While not as extensive at the celebrations in Rome, the Consualia in Alexandria has performers and chariot races which Ahearne participates in.
XXII Augustus - Hamilax arrives in Capua at Mama Vitalia's instruction to accompany P. Clodianus and his hired man T. Egnacius to Alexandria. They set off within the next few days.
September
IX September - P. Clodianus arrives in Alexandria with Hamilax and T. Egnacius in search of the missing Archeas Graduus. They swiftly find his home empty and begin tracing the man's steps through the city.
XV September - Pushing aside his pride, P. Clodianus enlists the help of his acquaintance Q. Aufidius Pollio who happens to be in Alexandria.
XVII September - With the help of Kashta a Kushite bodyguard employed by Q. Aufidius and a former comrade of Hamilax, P. Clodianus's group successfully traces Archeas Graduus's steps through the city. They determine that he spent much of the previous year in the Greek quarters of the city. Clodianus hires a Greek-speaking local, Sana to help them navigate this part of Alexandria.
XIX September - P. Clodianus discovers that Archeas was frequently seen near some disused buildings of the Greek quarter. With Sana's help and the protection of Hamilax and T. Egnacius, Clodianus finds his friend. The man is badly wounded and Clodianus takes him Q. Aufidius for aid.
XIV September - Despite the expert attentions of Theodorus, Archeas Graduus dies of his wounds. His grief-stricken friend P. Clodianus is left with more questions than answers and vows to keep looking.
October
XV October - The Ides of October has been set aside this year for the Recedalia, the festival of the Nile known locally as the Paen-Hwt-Hr. This festival marks the days before the busy sewing season ahead, when the grain for much of the Roman Empire is planted, and the prefect has planned three days of preformers, gladiators, and chariot races.