Becoming a Cliens
Any mortal player, except a matrona, can become the cliens
(client) of a patronus (patron) under the following circumstances:
- if the loser of a proelium is left without any legiones, he becomes "unprotected," and the winner may choose to execute the loser or take on the loser as a cliens
- if an imperator/rex encounters an “unprotected” player and chooses to take on that player as a cliens
- if an "unprotected" player voluntarily seeks the protection of an imperator/rex
- if Dionysus chooses to make a player his bacchant
The Nature of being a Patronus
Patroni must be imperatores/reges. If they lose all their legiones, their clientes are released from service. It is the obligation of a patronus to protect his cliens/tes from rival imperatores/reges in return for beneficial services such as voting in Rome in the behalf of their patroni. At his peril, however, the patronus may ignore this obligation. If, however, the patronus leaves the cliens behind in any region, the cliens is free to resume playing the Game as an independent agent and work for or against his former patronus. If a patronus is displeased with a cliens and has legiones present, he may execute the cliens.
The Nature of being a Cliens
Any money belonging to a cliens must be turned over to a patronus at any time the patronus demands it. The cliens must remain with his patronus as long as the patronus chooses to take the cliens along with him as he moves about. The region where they move must have available seating for the patronus and his cliens/clientes. The patronus may take the cliens with him to Rome during a hiems, in which case the patronus may compel the cliens to vote as the patronus wishes. A cliens may have multiple patroni and may not be executed by any one of them (including Dionysus) if another is present with his legiones and chooses to protect the cliens. The patronus who most recently took on a cliens has priority in dictating the movements and obligations of that cliens.
Dionysus and Bacchants
Dionysus may have clientes called bacchants. Any player facing death at the hands of the Senate or any deity (but not an imperator, rex or patronus) may appeal to Dionysus to rescue him and make him a bacchant. If there is no available seating in the provincia/regnum where Dionysus resides at present, the player cannot become a bacchant. However, Dionysus may move to a region with available seating in order to accommodate the prospective bacchant. Once the player has become a bacchant, Dionysus will give him a mitra (bacchic headband) to wear. When traveling between regions, bacchants are encouraged to perform exotic dances as they move.
Dionysus has the power of life and death over bacchants and makes all choices for them, including whom and when to fight. Dionysus and his bacchants must move according to the rules of the Game, i.e. where seating is available for both of them, traveling overseas only if all bacchants have classes, etc., though Dionysus can carry their legiones for them. If at any time Dionysus abandons a bacchant, that player is "liberated" from the god and is free to resume playing the Game at will. Dionysus may not reclaim a liberated bacchant, unless the player faces death again and appeals to the god.
We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.