CharactersIn a world very much like our own, there is an Empire. Named the Centurum Empire, it's armies are famous. Well organized, strong, powerful, with great numbers, there hasn't been a single country whose roads have not been touched by their marching beats. Invincible, some people whisper. And so far, they are right. Expanding from their originally small peninsula of an country, they have expanded north, south, east and west, stopping at the great desert wastes to the east and west, the icy wastes of the north, and the great ocean to the west. The Capital of this great Empire is Maro. While there are many great cities in the Empire, this is the greatest, the finest, the most lively and decadent.
Countries all over the known world are under the heel of the Centurum Empire, either conquered, under the control of Centurum Governors, or allies, paying heavy yearly taxes in gold, food and slaves to maintain such independence.
Maro is ruled by a council of patricians, old scholars that have lost all touch with the real world, preferring to placate he people of the city with games and festivals than face the real problems. Above them, the rulers of the empire as it were, are two, man and woman, usually brother and sister, elected by the council and maintained to be the Children and Living Embodiments of the Gods Hessen and Hama, the creators of the universe. Once these die, they are risen to the Status of Gods, and a new two are elected.
Even though the cold wastes of the north and the deserts of the south and east have stopped the legions of Centurum from expanding their empire further, annual attempts are still made on each frontier, and while they still fail, raids on the armies amassed by the barbarians that live in these retched areas bring form many riches in gold, silver, precious gems and, most importantly, slaves. Women and children, for the most part, and working men, not very imposing, sold to the highest bidder, with little thought cast towards their well being other than how it will, affect their work.
But some few slaves rise above such a status. Many indeed, rise above that of a Centurum citizen, rising up to the title of the Gods themselves. These are Gladiators, warriors to fight in the Three Arenas of Maro, honoring the places of worship to Area, the Goddess of war, with spectacles of blood and gore, violence and depredation. Gladiators against Gladiators, Gladiators against beasts, either of nature or magic, fighting to arise far above the avarice of gold, comforts and pleasures of the vulgar crowd. They fight for one thing, and one thing alone: Immortality!
As you may have noticed, this RP will be heavily based on Ancient Rome. Also, we will be having Female Gladiators (Gladiatrix) who will be training and fighting alongside the men.
The story will be happening in a Ludus just on the perimeter of Maro. The owner is a former Gladiator himself, awarded his freedom for pleasing the crowds, and continued fighting until his injuries forced him to retire. He used his amassed fortune to build his Ludus, and along with several friends, specialists in each of the Gladiatorial Fighting Styles, are beginning to train what will be the finest gladiators in the Empire. This RP will be following the lives and training of their first 20 recruits, brought in from all corners of the Empire, to train and fight in three month's time in the Twin's Festival, lasting a fortnight, five days of which will be of games, 20 fights per day and a battle on the fifth of 100 gladiators. They must be prepared before then.
The Players will be the 20 Gladiators that are in training, their six trainers, and some slaves in the Ludus. I will play the Dominus.
Rules: Why? Because rules are awesome.
1. Even though this is a fantasy world, I will be trying to keep things as close to the origins as possible.
2. Romance will be difficult, but possible, so kissing and light petting IC will be allowed. Anything more, please fade to black as we are adhering to RPG rules.
3. I will be playing the Dominus, so my word is law. The Doctores, will also have autonomy and command, unless their word directly clashhes against that of the Dominus.
4. Have fun. If you do not, little elves will go into your homes, steal on sock from every pair and hide your car keys when you aren't looking in the cushions of your sofa.
5. Come to me when in doubt, or better yet, take your own initiative. I don't bite, I promise. Keep all fights in the OOC cordial or we will revisit them elves again. No godmodding either. Your character is mortal and (for the moment) fighting Gladiators that are better and have more experience than them. If you wouldn't know something IC, you don't know it, even if you heard it said OOC. Again, breaking any rules will be punished by elves.
Dimachaerus Rudiarius, or a gladiator favoring the use of two swords in the arena, and one who continued fighting even after he was awarded his freedom. An older man of Iberian descent, in his 40s. with enough scars to paint a masterpiece. He was immensely popular in his day, but old injuries and age forced him into retirement. He knows everything that there is to know about training galdiators, and, unlike other Lanistas, he engages actively in the training of his men.
Murmillo, or a fighter using a long shield and gladius, he is a giant from the Northern Wastes, also a veteran fighter in the Arenas. While his specialty is Murmillo, he trains in the forms of Thraex form as well, almost the same as Murmillo, but using a longer curved sword and a smaller round shield, teaching both. Younger than the Dominus, the two have fought together in the Arena, coming from the same Ludus. At his retirement, Canis bought his freedom in exchange for helping him train his gladiators. He is the only Doctore to have his freedom in this Ludus.
Hoplomachus, a gladiator using a long spear, buckler, short sword and light armor, he was once a tribal leader in the desert expanses to the South. Trained in the forms of Velites, using two javalins, shield and gladius, Lorarium, using a whip, buckler and club, and Laqueraius, taking use of a bolas and a curved sword, he is easily the best trained of the Doctores. He was a doctore is another Ludus, after all, but was bought by Canis as the two had arrived in Rome at the same time, and were old friends.
Gladiatrix Retiarius, a female gladiator specializing in the use of a weighted net, trident and dagger. From the inside Italy and something of a protege of the giant, it was on Heimdal's insistence that she was bought by Canis. The youngest of the Doctores, but very popular and well known among the Arena enthusiasts. At her insistence, she is also still allowed to fight in the Games.
Cestus, or a gladiator that has steel gauntlets and is lightly armored, fighting with his fists. Also a large man, but not to Heimdal's stature. Faster, more agile and ambidextrous, he trains Diamachaerus as well, when the Dominus does not engage in the training. From the eastern Isles in the Great Sea, he was a mercenary that was sold into slavery for his gambling debts.
Not a specialist in any gladiator style, but her training regards the throwing of spears and knives, use of the bow and arrow, and horse riding. Never having set foot in any of the arenas, her duty is to make sure that the gladiators are prepared for any eventuality when in combat. While she will take no gladiators under her wing, she will assist the various Doctores in their work. Her origins are shady, although her skin speaks of her being from the East as well.
A lad of 13, he was born in the ludus and raised under it's previous owner. Seeing promise in the lad, the former Lanista offered him a place of service with the gladiators where he could watch and study them, and was promised, when he was of age to join their ranks as well. Canis said that he would hold to that promise. For the moment, he is the Doctores' assistant, getting water for the trainees, weapons and running errands.
A cunning and conniving little man, he is from a city on the border of the eastern wastes. He was born a free man but sold into slavery by a father he never met. His first Dominus bought him as a apprentice to his own medicus. When it was shown that he had some skill in the craft of medicine, he was sent to study at the Medical school of Tarsia. However, once his studies were completed, he tried to escape, but was caught, branded and sold to the former owner of the ludus. He remained there ever since, placed prestigiously among the slaves of the house, having his own quarters.
Everyone will be playing at least one of the trainee gladiators/gladiatrixes. However, if you are interested, you may play one of the Doctores as well. Just present a complete CS on the one that you want to play. I will be playing the Dominus, a trainee and NPCing any untaken Doctores.
Character SheetName:
Appearance:(Picture is preferable, but a short but thorough description will do)
Age:
Preferred Gladiator Form:(The forms that I will accept are in the Doctores descriptions)
Bio: (Something short and sweet. Where are they from? How did they become slaves? Anything else that will be pertinent for me to know beforehand?)
Any Questions, doubts, ideas etc can be directed to me or my Co-GM Katelyn.
