Of the tribune candidates, most were arrayed in the traditional chalked togas...but there were two who made a point of wearing plain, unbleached wool, the better to show their status as true 'guardians of the people'...Mesius Scaptius and Manius Antistius. Both were new to politics, but it seems that they had been coached on how best to appeal to the masses.

The men listened to the speech of Hibernicus with varying stages of approval, and Scaptius murmured that he was only running because he had won all the glory spots already. One or two others nodded at this, but each in turn, gave pretty much the same speech to the assembled throngs:

"I support the rights of the people, and will do my best to keep them sacrosanct from any interference by the patricians who would tramply us into the dust, as they tried with our forefathers!

"My door will always be open to receive your complaints and pleas for sanctuary, should that be a last resort!

"I pledge on my family's honor that I will block any attempt to infringe on your privileges, and will veto any measure that seems to threaten the plebeian cause!"

There was scattered applause after each man spoke, obviously each had a few clients in the crowd...and generally the response was warm. More interesting things were usually heard from the other candidates, so the crowds made their way to where the next batch of hopefuls were gathered.