The year is 69 AD. Rome is in shambles, savaged by a fire and a succession of increasingly callous and careless emperors. At this moment, the throne is open; no one has a rightful claim as heir. Between this, a conspiracy within the senate, and rumors of a large-scale invasion by the Mongols, Rome's fate seems to be sealed.
This is where we come in. The stage has been set; all it needs is a cast of characters. Will you be a power-hungry tyrant? Someone who just wants to save Rome? A mongol war leader? A third party with your own agenda? Or anything in between?

Rules: I'll keep this very brief.
Please, please, PLEASE do some research. This is historical fiction, so it's not crucial to have every little detail right, but I do expect an effort. A character with an American-style name or appearance (like John Smith, a pale-skinned red-haired boy with a southern accent) WILL NOT be accepted. This is 70 AD, people! Act like it! Similarly, don't name your legions things like the "XII Sparkle Legion" (it's happened before) because really, that's just ridiculous. If you're really stuck, ask me for help on this.
Please try to write in third-person. It makes it easier for me if you use past tense, but that is not required.
Female characters are fine, just make them believable! Don't make a waifish sixteen-year-old girl commander of a legion, or a senator. Said waifish sixteen-year-old can try to arrange a marriage for herself with a future emperor, though. Or she can cleverly assassinate candidates to maneuver her brother/father to the top of the pile. Just because she's a girl doesn't mean she doesn't have options.
Similarly, demigods are fine, just as long as they don't have powers. It's fine for a child of Apollo to be very knowledgeable on healing, as long as it's not the "heal-with-a-touch" nonsense. A child of Mars can be strong and gifted with weapons, just as long as it's not "I can kill a man with my pinkie nail" strong.
And most importantly, have fun with this RP and try to learn something new!

And now... Character sheets!
Name: (Use wikipedia's Roman Naming Conventions for help)
Age: (I'll say no one younger than fourteen, and even those characters must have a good reason to be so young. Centurions should be at least 20, and Legion Legates at least 30. Senators at least 25, but emperors/empresses can be anyone.)
Nationality: (Are you Roman, Gallic, Celtic, Mongolian, or none of the above?)
Rank within nation:
For Roman commanders, which province are you stationed in?
Appearance: (I would prefer a description, but a picture is acceptable as well)
Background: (keep it brief if you want.)
Strengths, weaknesses, phobias, et cetera:
Ambition: (do you want to be emperor? Do you want to conquer Rome? Do you want to see Rome thrive for eternity? You get the gist of this part.)

Note that this is subject to change at any time, and this is just a general outline. I'll get my CS up as soon as possible, but as I said I'm busy.

Please, before you begin, tell me the province you wish to be the commander of. This is for BB, because s/he is going to be making a map of the world for us. If you really want a province that has already been claimed, and the other commander has okayed it, there can be two legions within each province.

CLAIMED PROVINCES
Aegyptus
Asia
Brittania
Gallia Belgica
Gallia Cisalppina
Pannonia

ACCEPTED CHARACTERS
Aquilia Severa--Rock Killjoy
Ateret, Marcus, Divinia, Hadassah, Nona, Crispus, Aedre--Whirlwind
Gaius Ignis, Pentalius Noctua, Kattell Bosser--Enalais
Tainus Fulvius, Tressa Corcoran, Ansgar Corcoran--Lord Pie
Gaius Aemilius Caesar, Aemilia Metelli, Aemiliana Secunda, Aulus Vitellius--RomanAria
Marcus Cornelius Falco Minor--Marcus XVI
Amphion Sarkis--FinDragon
Titus Junius Antonius--Viktor

Hmm... After reading this over again, I'm wondering if I shouldn't have started this in Nation roleplays.... It seems more fitting than a "low-casual" rp. Oh well.

Preparing my app right now. I'll be making a general in control of Aegyptus.

Working on my app, I'd like to claim Asia (The Roman Province)

BB said
Preparing my app right now. I'll be making a general in control of Aegyptus.

Sakaki Chizuru said
Working on my app, I'd like to claim Asia (The Roman Province)

Alright, you're both good. I'll put a list of claimed provinces in the first post.

Let me know if anything needs to be reworked!

Could I have a legionarie captain?

Rock Killjoy said
Could I have a legionarie captain?

I don't see why not.

Whirlwind said
Let me know if anything needs to be reworked!

:O Oh my word. All accepted. Good job.

RomanAria said
:O Oh my word. All accepted. Good job.

Yay! Thank ya

Name: Aquilia Severa

Gender:Female

Nationality:Roman

Appearance: http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131111223758/elderscrolls/images/f/fd/Imperial_Armor_Female.jpg (minus the obnoxious boob cups and skyrim type shield.)

Age:23

Occupation: Legionnaire

Ranking: Centurion (captain type rank, field commander under the General of ____whatever general needs a captain. )

Equipment
-Black and white Mohawk helmet

-Standard roman soldiers armor

-Short red cape with wolf fur shoulder strap covers.

-Tower shield

-A white leather handled short sword.

-Standard Javelin

-Smaller dagger brown leather handle.

-Secondary short sword with a brown handle.

Biography
Severa was born in Rome, her father was a legionnaire her mother a sculptor. As a young girl she didn't know her father very well, as at the time Rome's legions were off fighting the tribes in Germania. Severa grew up rather worry free and healthy, she chased the guards of the city around pestering them with countless questions. As she got older she decided she wanted to follow in her fathers footsteps, she began to train her body and mind at an early age. Her mother of course worried and would rather have her daughter not become a legionnaire, rather have her marry some wealthy noble man and have children. But Aquilia didn't want that, she didn't want to spend the rest of her life chained down to a mans will; a gilded cage was still a cage. So when she came of age she enlisted as a Legionnaire, around this time Rome started its downwards spiral. A perfect time to be a solider, to help fight for the Roman people. In only three short years, Severa grew in rank and prestige to a Captains level she was well respected by the men in her legion as well as the women. Known for her sharp battle skills, and even sharper mind a quick and clever battle field tactician with a hint of fool hearty bravado.

Weaknesses
•A sturdy loyalty to the defense of children, even if they are of the enemy nation.

•Gung-ho occasionally Severa has gone rouge for lack of a better term, commanding troops against the better judgement of generals.

•Stubbornness Severa has no fear of death nor pain, as such she would likely stand her ground against any and all odds with unwavering dedication. This can be seen as both a weakness and a strength.

Strengths

•Bravado! Yes this is one thing Severa has in mass, her ability to inspire and rally people behind her is almost astounding one could say she could be a polition. She however detests that statement.

Aspiration

•To make her father proud, by climbing through the ranks and serving Rome even if it costs her, her very life.

Wow. You're accepted, Rock. This will be a fun bunch to RP with, it looks like.

This comment will be edited into a CS at a later date.

Name: Gaius Ignis
Age: 29
Nationality: Mixed Roman Father, Barbarian Mother
Rank within nation: Praetorian Guard

Appearance: Gaius stands at 6 feet in height his shoulders are broad, and his light brown hair has been cut short so his helmet fits easier, from his helmet peer two gray-blue eyes that are cold and hardened by war.

Background: Gaius was born to a legionary lifer and a Barbarian mother, he didn't know much about either as his mother died shortly after his birth and his father was away fighting wars so he was left with someone who would care for him, when he was old enough he joined the legion and quickly rose through the ranks showing great promise as as a centurion but instead the powers called him away as The then Emperor picked him as a Praetorian Guard and there he serves the Emperor ready to die for him.

Strengths, weaknesses, phobias, et cetera: Gaius is a seasoned veteran meaning he's great at strategy and warfare, he has trained extensively with his blade, shield, and Pila to where he can throw his spear with great accuracy and his blade is an extension of his arm. But he isn't to great at being sociable, he has trouble making friends, and he often has flashbacks of battles before, he is also greatly afraid of elephants.

Ambition: He wants to become Praetorian Prefect, he also wants to see Rome become greater and if that means killing the emperor so be it.

Welcome, Enalais. You're most definitely accepted.

Name:
Tainus Fulvius

Age:
37

Nationality:
Roman

Rank within nation:
Senator, former Legion Legate for province of Gallia Belgica (present day northern France, Luxembourg, part of the Netherlands below the Rhine and the German Rhineland – in about 90 AD roughly, renamed & incorporated into Germania Inferior, later to be reorganized and renamed as Germania Secunda).

Appearance:
Tainus is a healthy and strong Roman, he appears the part of a veteran Legate quite well. He has short hair and bold green eyes and stands at 6’3. A small scar marks his left eye, a result of a well-placed blow in his youth by a Iceni warrior – though now completely healed the scar will always remain. His dark hair is rapidly begging to grey and is now peppered with numerous lighter streaks, and the youthful confidence that once flowed through him is slowly begging to fade, replaced instead by a more calm and calculating appearance.

Background:
Born to a wealthy former plebeian family (they became ‘Nobiles’ through patronage with the patrician Fabia family around 322 BC and have since become engrained in many facets of higher Roman society), Tainus enjoyed the full luxuries that Roman life had to offer to its citizens. He spent his youth in the family’s villa just outside of Rome herself, becoming very familiar with the city and surrounding area as he was educated in many areas of Roman society, having a lust for both knowledge and experience from a young age.

As he grew into a young man he soon became obsessed with the idea of the glory of Rome and her warriors, becoming heavily involved in the Roman military. (His uncle was a Legion Legate during the Roman invasion of Britannia who was vastly successful). Through the web of the family’s control it wasn’t long before he had received the best military training that could be found and was sent to serve directly under his uncle Manius Fulvius. Promoted very quickly he soon gained the respect and loyalty of his fellow legionnaires, working directly under his uncle he soon knew the feeling of power and wealth generated by his own actions. After the relative success against the different Briton Tribes he was a wealthy man, spending much of his time as his father taught him securing and investing in all manner of property, trade and of course, slaves. At the age of 31 he was granted his own command as Legion Legate for province of Gallia Belgica due to his formidable experience against the ‘barbarian hordes’ (and of course with assistance politically through his family in the senate), now charged with defending the northern reaches of the empire against the Germanic hordes, and granted provincial leadership through this position. It was at this time he bought his own villa outside of Rome and began to send his wealth back and begin to accumulate his own small fortune. He and his legion assisted his uncle against the Iceni rebellion lead by Boudicca - Tainus personally took part in the battle which saw the rebellion defeated.

After several years holding the position everything was thrown into disarray with the death of the Emperor Nero, and through that the following defeats his family received after allying themselves incorrectly with Marcus Salvius Otho, who ruled as emperor for only three months before committing suicide to prevent civil war. This left them in a vulnerable position and lead to the murder or execution of several prominent members of his family by the forces of both Aulus Vitellius in the west and Titus Vespasian in the east - as they waged a civil war against each other for the control of the empire. Aulus Vitellius demanded that Tainus and his legion bow and support him as emperor, but rather than agree to the demands of a man who was responsible for the death of his father he decided that it was time to throw his own name in the ring as a powerful man of Rome and strike down the Legions supporting Vitellius before moving towards Rome herself and any others who would falsely proclaim themselves emperor. His Legion in Gallia Belgica have sworn fierce loyalty to him, as well as those who remained from his father’s Legion stationed in Britannia. Some whispers have circulated that Tainus may be better suited as the Emperor than any other pretender, however at the moment he has not decided whether to support another or attempt to take the Empire for his own. He moves now to the Senate to take his rightful place amongst those who attempt to discover the future of Rome.

Strengths, weaknesses, phobias, et cetera:
Tainus Fulvius is a ‘True Roman’ through and through – in the sense that he values everything that makes Rome great and loyal serves the empire first and foremost. That being said he also values the ties of family and his allies greatly and considers his word as his bond – when dealing with other Romans at least.

His strengths lie in his own strength and authority of command, leading from the battlefield itself he has become skilled with many weapons and fighting techniques, as well as gathering a loyal following of soldiers and other allies both in the province he overseas and back at his homestead in Rome.

Not that he would ever admit to it but his weaknesses could be considered many. He has difficulty staying away from the lure of drink as well as gambling, the two going hand in hand together. He also has somewhat of a weak spot when it comes to the opposite sex, having several lovers despite the clear love he feels for his wife. He also has a weak left knee, the result of his worst battlefield wound, narrowly avoiding losing the limb to a Iceni Chiefdom in the deciding victory against their little Rebellion.

He often hesitates upon the best course of action to take, which could be considered a strength as much as a weakness in the current political climate.

Ambition:
Tainus Fulvius seeks to grow his own house to legendary status, be it through supporting the one true Emperor or becoming the Emperor himself. Mainly he seeks to reclaim the lost wealth and prestige of his father and family after they were recently killed and cast aside after the death of Emperor Nero.

His ambition really is still to be decided.

---

Let me know if this is all good! Looking forwards to seeing how this opens out and what not. I tried to stay as close to historical accuracy as possible, however it was a tad difficult to say exactly where the RP would take off, but I assumed someplace throughout the year of four emperors – which followed Nero’s death but before the establishment of Vespasian as Emperor.

Ah, and sorry I forgot about asking in advance about the provinces :s
If they are not okay for any reason then it's totally cool for me to change any of the detail, sorry again guys!

Sorry I didn't see this earlier... This looks amazing! I'll put you down for Brittania and Gallia Belgica ASAP. And I'm thinking this will start in the winter of 69-70, so after Vitellius but before Vespasian? I'm thinking that we can alter history a bit; Vitellius could have been assassinated in, oh, I don't know, October of 69? The corrupted senators could have thrown themselves behind a shallow, ill-suited character (maybe with bribery, because I can't see the wise senators so obviously stabbing Rome in the foot) and made him emperor... I could even play him for a while, until everyone else comes up to assassinate him? If you're all okay with that.

Yeah I’d definitely be fine with that. Though perhaps to go in with the bio of my character I could be responsible one way or another for the death of Vitellius? (as I was planning on clashing with him right at the start?) Or perhaps if you’d be happy for him to remain, however I would deal with him in the opening posts either through assassination or open battle (or some combo of the both?) then continue as you say there.

Yep, I'm good with it either way. Actually, it might work better if Vitellius is still in office right at the beginning, to really set the tone. And your character has a far better claim than most to kill Vitellius. Hehe.

Awesome. How many people were you wanting to get the show on the road? :)

Umm... I was planning on waiting for a few more of the interest check people. Also I still need to find time to put together a decent CS.

Yay for finally having time to do CSs! Please critique them, if I need to change anything for the storyline to flow right, do let me know!

Name: Aemiliana Secunda
Age: 14
Nationality: Roman; possibly a child of the empire’s patron goddess Roma.
Rank within nation: Second daughter of the soon-to-be emperor.
Appearance: Aemiliana does NOT look like a Roman. She is tiny (even by Roman standards) standing only 4’8” tall and weighing a mere 75 pounds. She has very bright violet eyes, exactly the purple color that the emperor wears, and this makes people think that her mother was a goddess (as her father certainly isn’t a god.) She wears her wavy black hair in a braided coil, not usually bothering to do anything fancy with it. Aemiliana wears makeup only when she must be seen in public, and even then only grudgingly. Also, she spends most of her time indoors, and so has a very fair complexion.
Background: Aemi was born under suspicious circumstances. Her father Gaius, then a junior senator, met a woman on the streets. She seemed to be a slave, or some other lowly rank, but Gaius was enchanted. He brought the woman into his home, marrying her within the day, and seven months later Aemi was born. The woman died in childbirth (Never mind that Aemi nearly died too, being born 2 months early) and Aemi’s always been blamed for it. She’s always had poor health, what with her premature birth and a fever that came around when she was five and very nearly killed her. She desperately wants to be trained as a medic, so that she might save people from dying like her mother did, but she knows that she doesn’t have the strength to keep up with the army. So instead she informally attends the university, when she can get away from her father. Her father tends to beat her for it, telling her how stupid and weak she is, how the only thing she can do with her life is get married and vanish into the background, and how she shouldn’t go to school. To add to her problems, her older sister and her best friend are always cruel to her. Just little things: Tripping her and making her fall into the fountain, stealing one of her shoes from every set she owns, burning her homework, and so on. They really make life a living hell for her.
Strengths, weaknesses, phobias, et cetera: Aemi has a sharp mind, but doesn’t very well get along with people. She’s too shy to really say anything to anyone, and is terrified of men because of her father. She is irrationally afraid of the dark… Her weakness is taking a life; she will not even kill a spider, much less a human, and this might get her killed.
Ambition: Aemi wants to get away from her father and make her own life on her own terms. Beyond that, she feels that her father will destroy Rome, and she wants to help make sure he never gets the chance to.
Name: Aemilia Metelli
Age: 16
Nationality: Roman
Rank within nation: First daughter of the soon-to-be emperor; wife of Metellus. Friend of Nona.
Appearance: Unlike her sister, Aemilia is very much a Roman girl. She has curly light brown hair that she always has in an elaborate updo, lovely golden eyes, and a tan complexion. She’s tall, about 5’6, and slender, about 120 pounds. She often wears golden makeup and gowns, and expensive scents to attract attention.
Background: Aemilia was the first child of Gaius Aemilius Caesar, before he became a senator, and his first wife. She was spoiled rotten, and her bratty personality reflects this. When she was fifteen she was married to Lucius Metellius Pius. She’s rather in the same boat as Nona is, with an unfaithful husband and the rest of the world knowing it.
Strengths, weaknesses, phobias, et cetera: She is cunning and has a cruel mind. Her weakness is her love of expensive jewelry and clothing, and her closed-mindedness to academics.
Ambition: To be the most powerful woman in all of Rome.
Name: Gaius Aemilius Vitellius Caesar
Age: 42
Nationality: Roman, through-and-through.
Rank within nation: Adopted by Vitellius as heir to the Empire.
Appearance: Gaius is a big man, standing 5’11” and weighing about 200 pounds. He has stern gray eyes and close-cropped black hair. When he was younger he was quite the looker and had affairs with many young girls.
Background: (keep it brief if you want.) Gaius lived a privileged life as one of the elite in Rome. He went to school to be an orator, and to learn to fight (though he had no interest in the military.) He was from the start a very wealthy, very clever man, and he managed to connive his way out of any real military service. All he wanted was to have statues erected of him; he didn’t actually want to work for it. When he met Aemilia’s mother, he was thrilled, as he had found a pretty young woman to do his bidding. His first daughter was much like him, more interested in winning the hearts of pretty young men than in actually doing something with her life. He lavished gifts upon her. A year after Aemilia was born, Gaius met another woman on the street. She had no high-ranking family, but for whatever reason he was enchanted, and quickly married her. Seven months later Aemiliana (the little Aemilia) was born, and during childbirth her mother died. So Gaius despised her, for taking away a woman that he loved. He was rather frightened of the girl when she first opened her eyes and showed him that they were a rich purple color, not a brown or blue like they should have been. And that fright only increased as she mastered both Greek and Latin before she turned five. Gaius was intelligent enough to know that his daughter was far smarter than he was, and he didn’t want her developing her mental powers enough to be able to dethrone him. But he couldn’t stop her from going to the university informally.
When Gaius was 38, he was adopted formally by Vitellius, and as soon as Vitellius became emperor he started paying heavy bribes to all of the senators, ensuring his spot on the throne.
Strengths, weaknesses, phobias, et cetera: He loves his elder daughter and despises his younger one. His greatest strength is his cunning mind and his lack of morals. He is terrified of his younger daughter because he is not a very pious man and now he has proof of divine interference.
Ambition: Take over the Empire.