Annals I.22, I.23

Thence arose a more furious outbreak, with more leaders of the mutiny. Vibulenus, a common soldier, was hoisted in front of the general's tribunal on the shoulders of the bystanders and addressed the excited throng, who eagerly awaited his intentions. "You have indeed," he said, "restored light and air to these innocent and most unhappy men, but who restores to my brother his life, or my brother to myself? Sent to you by the German army in our common cause, he was last night butchered by the gladiators whom the general keeps and arms for the destruction of his soldiers. Answer, Blaesus, where you have flung aside the corpse? Even an enemy grudges not burial. When, with embraces and tears, I have sated my grief, order me also to be slain, provided only that when we have been destroyed for no crime, but only because we consulted the good of the legions, we may be buried by these men around me."

He inflamed their excitement by weeping and smiting his breast and face with his hands. Then, hurling aside those who bore him on their shoulders, and impetuously flinging himself at the feet of one man after another, he roused such dismay and indignation that some of the soldiers put fetters on the gladiators who were among the number of Blaesus's slaves, others did the like to the rest of his household, while a third party hurried out to look for the corpse. And had it not quickly been known that no corpse was found, that the slaves, when tortures were applied, denied the murder, and that the man never had a brother, they would have been on the point of destroying the general. As it was, they thrust out the tribunes and the camp-prefect; they plundered the baggage of the fugitives, and they killed a centurion, Lucilius, to whom, with soldiers' humour, they had given the name "Bring another," because when he had broken one vine-stick on a man's back, he would call in a loud voice for another and another. The rest sheltered themselves in concealment, and one only was detained, Clemens Julius, whom the soldiers considered a fit person to carry messages, from his ready wit. Two legions, the eighth and the fifteenth, were actually drawing swords against each other, the former demanding the death of a centurion, whom they nicknamed Sirpicus, while the men of the fifteenth defended him, but the soldiers of the ninth interposed their entreaties, and when these were disregarded, their menaces.

A new leader of the mutiny, Vibulenus, arises and falsely accuses Blaesus of killing his brother. The situation falls into greater chaos with the killing of a centurion and the torture of Blaesus' slaves. The soldiers nearly fight each other.

The mutiny already had a leader with Percennius. Clearly, some soldiers were not happy with how things were being handled. Percennius had clear demands and was communicating them to the emperor through Blaesus. The soldiers hadn't gotten anything in return except a few freed prisoners. Blaesus still had authority and legitimacy over the soldiers and was stalling.

Vibulenus wanted to shatter that authority and legitimacy. Blaesus had shown himself to be honorable with his offer of suicide. Additionally, Blaesus was able to appear to be facilitating by communicating Percennius' demands. Vibulenus' accusation and demands are a perfect attack on this. Vibulenus claims that Blaesus' slaves killed his brother and he wants his brother's body for burial. Blaesus' honor is now challenged and, with no actual brother, it is impossible for Blaesus to comply.

Again, through not important to the story at all, Tacitus mentions a leader, Lucilius, who was too strict and gets killed. All the other centurions are spared except Clemens Julius who is useful and Sirpicus who is on the bubble apparently.

As I said before, keeping Blaesus around had its advantages. Blaesus maintained order. With his power severed, the legions almost immediately take up arms against each other.