We have two Marcus's apparently. I PM'd my sheet to Cap'n... but I am playing Marcus Junius Virilius.

Everyone's sheet is in, if I'm not mistaken, save for Duncan74.

Duncan - send me yer sheet whenever you get the chance, and we'll begin.

Meanwhile, here's my character:

Decimus Flavius Felix

Decimus Felix is the son of Lucius Flavius Felix, a wealthy merchant, though of low-birth. His wife, though unknown to Lucius Felix when he married her, was infertile, and numerous attempts to continue the family line were fruitless. Eventually, copulation with a slave-girl yielded Decimus, though Lucius would pass off the child as the product of himself and his wife, wanting a male heir above nothing else. When the slave-girl protested, distraught over the fact that she could not raise her own child, Lucius had her killed to keep her quiet. As the girl’s blood was Roman enough, Decimus Felix was passed off as the natural son of Lucius Felix, and all was well.

As his business profited and he became an influential man, especially on the Aventine, Lucius Felix ran for magistrate and was elected, currying favor with senators and making payoffs to ensure his position. Lucius Felix’s true ambition was to become a Novus Homo, or new man: the first of his branch of the family to become a politician, thus ensuring that his descendants would be nobles (albeit not patricians). As such, he worked very hard to make all the right friends. Meanwhile, Decimus Felix learned from his father’s upward-clawing and greed, and became rather avaricious himself. He learned from an early age that he could, for the most part, take what he wanted from the weaker boys, and he did so. He spent some time apprenticing with a mason, but his father ultimately discouraged it, saying that while trade work was respectable, Decimus could find better profit elsewhere; in truth, he was hoping that Decimus would seek a job in politics. Eventually, Decimus began working freelance for the Aventine Collegium, mostly acting as a bodyguard or ‘strong-arm man’. While most of his comrades spent their money on whores and wine, Decimus saved his gold as his father taught him, hoping to make something of himself.

In time, Lucius Felix had positioned himself politically to run for consul, but there was much scandal over his son being a ‘knifeman’ for the collegia. Lucius Felix, seeking to reverse these rumors, pressured Decimus into joining the Roman Army, so that he could claim to be a patriot who was willing to give his son to the Republic. However, as the election neared, the rumors among other merchants and simple plebeians about the true mother of Decimus Felix reached the ears of Lucius Felix’s opponents, and the scandal of him having a suspected half-caste son prevented him from winning the election. He disowned Decimus, who had joined the army to impress his father. And, in a few short years, Decimus found himself fighting in the Gallic Wars, which was not exactly a picnic - he became bitter and resentful of his father, for whom he had sacrificed so much…and for nothing.

Years later, he received word that his father was ill and on his deathbed. His prefect would have allowed him to return to Rome so that he could visit his father before he died. Decimus refused, and his father died alone and spurned; his mother died shortly thereafter.

Now, after seven years of fighting in Gaul, Decimus is a bitter man. He is still intensely greedy – he is something of a hoarder, and he stands to inherit a fair sum from his father’s estate when he returns to Rome. He is not particularly loyal to the Republic or Caesar, but his loyalty to the coin knows no end. Part of him is remorseful that he did not become a nobleman as his father withdrew from the election, and naturally he feels somewhat guilty (though it is no fault of his) for his slave-birth. Decimus almost feels as if he accumulates enough gold, he’ll be able to buy a good name for himself. He is bloodthirsty in battle, and thinks only of profit as he slaughters his enemies; he has a knack for all manner of violence from his years of fighting and time spent in the collegium.

Because of his knack for upward-clawing and social advancement, he quickly made friends with the last Optio, Marcus Junius Virilis, and proved himself worthy on the battlefield. When Marcus Virilis was made Centurion, his cozying up to power paid off, and he was made Optio. Despite his negative personality traits, he is not unlikable; he does make friends, though loyalty is something somewhat foreign to him. He’ll follow the path that will make him the most money. Of course, this doesn’t make him stupid – he is above simple thievery or the like, as those paths could get him crucified very quickly in the Legion.

Appearance-
Age: 23 years
Hair: Standard Roman haircut; his hair is dark brown, though it is only a tinge lighter than the hair of most Romans (the slave-girl who was his mother was not completely Roman).
Eyes: Dark brown
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 220 lbs.

Decimus has a typical ‘Roman’ nose, high cheekbones, full lips and is rather average-looking in terms of attractiveness. He usually keeps a bit of stubble, but this is out of laziness, not fashion-sense. A small scar runs down his right cheek, though it is hardly visible. Decimus is well-built, but has something of a gut from drinking.

Marcus Junius Virilis

Eldest son of Gaius Junius Virilis and Lucretia Tertia. He has a younger brother, Gaius Junius Spurius and two younger sisters, Junia Prima and Junia Secunda.
His uncle is Decimus Junius Silanus, married to Servillia Caepionis (mother to Marcus Junius Brutus).

Born: 80 BC in Rome

His father was part of the merchant class, building up a small fortune trading salt from Egypt, thus he was gone a great deal of the time, leaving his family back in Rome. Lucretia was not that excellent at keeping track of her children, especially the boys, and they ran free along the streets.
On a trip home in 60BC Gaius found that his son’s had spent a good deal of his money in brothels and at gambling. Furious he demanded that his eldest son marry and start to take on the family business, while his younger son would be sent to Greece to study rhetoric. Gaius arranged a marriage with the daughter of a silk merchant. Marcus plead with his father not to make him marry and trade salt, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Two days before the marriage was to take place Marcus fled Rome, hearing that Gaius Julius Caesar was levying for troops in Gaul he headed that direction.
Once in Gaul Marcus joined the VIII Legion created by Caesar. The military was an excellent fit for this young man, and he quickly took to it, adapting to the culture and showing his military skills on the battlefield. Two years later when Caesar levied to created the XIII Legion he moved Marcus from the VIII to the XIII as an Optio, when his Centurion was killed in battle Marcus moved up to the position.
At the battle of Alesia he received a serious wound to his left arm, but kept fighting. After the battle he was told to take some time off to heal, refusing to leave the army he stayed in the camp while on leave and struggled every day to bring himself back to full capacity. Finally healed well enough to return to duty he has been assigned to a special unit now.

Marcus stands just over 5’6”, but appears nearly as broad, and every inch is muscle. He has brown eyes and dark brown curly hair. His battle tested body is covered in scars, the worst being the fresh one on his left bicep, which wraps itself around almost all of the arm in a deep gagged pink line. Slightly bowlegged he has a very unique gait, almost teetering back and forth as he walks. As many of his fellow soldiers he is rough around the edges and comes right to the point most of the time.

Hey Lou.

I hate to be the wrench in the works, but unfortunately, I am starting a new job, and thus I am going to have to back out of this one. I'm going to have MUCH less computer time, and just wouldn't be able to do the game justice.

I'm going to try to stay involved in the games I'm currently posting in, but it just isn't feasible right now for me to take on more.

Apologies again if this screws things up, but I have to render unto Caesar and all-so I guess I won't be escaping Rome completely-hehe.

I hope the game goes great, and I wish you a grand adventure.

--Duncan

...understandable. Glad you got the new job and you're not throwing a wrench into the works in the slightest.

We'll begin as soon as possible, if everyone is okay with that.

Can't post today, too busy - expect a post tomorrow or the next day.

Sounds great. Am looking forward to getting this started. I'll be watching for your post and will try to have something up this weekend in response before I start my new job on Monday.
M.

I am interested in playing if u still have a slot open. Was thinking of a sarmation calvaryman, although during 52 century bc the sarmatians and romans are not exactly best of friends. I was thinking that he could be in a self imposed exile for killing his brother and became a roman citizen in exchange for his military service. He became a messenger and calvaryman until recently and has recently been attached to the 13th legion. Would be able to get u a background next weekend if i cant get it to you tomorrow. He would be a skilled horse rider with a good skill with a shortbow and a shorsword being more of a agile, dexterous fighter than great strength. He would also use a round shield instead of the standard tower shields.

...post my character here?