It took Maximus a moment to parse the slang, but once he did...

"An earthquake." He nodded slowly. "... Rome saw a few, though I spent most of my time in the north, where there were fewer. My district... you mean the province I am supposed to represent? To fight for?"

He frowned, wondering why they hadn't told him personally.

"You would think a civilization such as this would have mastered earthquakes, by now."