An apocryphal story.

Linitus looked over the crowd. His strongly muscled arms carried his shield and spear with authority. A more fine example of Roman never existed.

The crowd before him eagerly awaited his words. The signs and portents had all turned. Strange and unusual things were occurring and the world around them had changed. Linitus knew he needed to quiet the crowd; to bring them back to themselves and set aside their fears for the Glory of Rome.

Linitus gestured at the sky. "The portents are bad. It is true. But things are never quite as bad as they seem." He paused. "Or as great as they seem...sadly." Some members of the crowd laughed, more as a release of tension than from genuine humor. Still though, the attempt at humor was enough to convince many in that moment that their fears were groundless.

"The world is not going to end tomorrow. There's still time. Please return to your homes. Go about your business, and wait for the signs and portents to stop." Slowly, the crowd turned and obeyed...all but a few. Linitus knew that before an hour was up the town would lose these citizens to the Road. They'd surrender to their fear and leave behind their possessions and all for what? All because a few things had changed.

His aide stepped close. "Should we stop the ones who try to leave?"

Linitus sneered. "No...let them go. Pompeii is better without them."