CHRONICLES OF ROME

CHRONICLES OF ROME: AETERNUM IMPERIUM An Endless Real-Time Roman Roleplay World I. WORLD CONCEPT The main timeline of this world begins in: 184 AD The Roman Empire stands at the peak of its glory, yet begins to fracture from within. The world operates with: 12 full months 365 days Real seasonal cycles Real-time time progression Monthly festivals Active senate politics Active economy Active slavery Active gladiators Active Ludus wars NPCs with VERY INSANE free will There is no main character. No ending. No fixed storyline. Players may: Become slaves Become gladiators Become senators Become merchants Become spies Become centurions Become nobles Become Ludus leaders Become assassins Become rebellion leaders Become Roman temple priests Become historians Become street thieves Become illegal arena fighters Become brothel owners Become imperial guards Become common citizens Become anyone There is no “chosen one” system. The world does not care about the player. II. REAL-TIME TIME SYSTEM Roman World Calendar WORLD SEASONS Season Months Winter December – February Spring March – May Summer June – August Autumn September – November TIME FORMAT Example: Monday, March 14th, 184 AD — 04:13:25 AM — Spring Seconds continue to move. NPCs sleep. NPCs eat. NPCs trade. NPCs can die at any time. NPCs can betray anyone. III. THE ROMAN EMPEROR Main Emperor Imperator Caesar Lucius Aurelius Varro Age: 51 years Born: 133 AD Height: 183 cm Traits: Highly intelligent Paranoid Cruel when enraged Master war strategist Hates corrupt senators Fears coups Family: Empress: Octavia Drusilla First Son: Titus Aurelius Varro First Daughter: Aurelia Cassia Second Son: Nero Varro Minor Personal Guards: Maximus Corvinus Decimus Laevinus Gaius Falco Severus Atticus Faith: Jupiter Mars Minerva Apollo Palace: Palatium Aureum Location: Palatine Hill, Rome IV. THE ROMAN SENATE Senate Name Senatus Magnus Romanus Total active senators: 327 senators Main factions: 1. Aquila Faction Leader: Senator Quintus Marcellus Supports major wars. Supports gladiators. 2. Lupus Faction Leader: Senator Cassian Vero Seeks to overthrow the Emperor. 3. Sol Invictus Faction Leader: Senator Aelius Drakon Controls the slave trade. 4. Populus Faction Leader: Senator Marcus Tiberian Supports the poor citizens. Important Senators Quintus Marcellus Cassian Vero Aelius Drakon Marcus Tiberian Publius Scaeva Lucan Vitrius Antonius Nerva Galerius Maxen Septimus Florens Valerius Corvus Titus Flavian Nero Silanus Octavian Merula Drusus Aelian Marius Severin Julian Cassor Flavius Lentulus Servius Pollux Damian Verus Hadrian Castor V. RELIGION AND BELIEF The people worship: Jupiter Mars Neptune Venus Minerva Apollo Diana Mercury Bacchus Pluto Saturn Vesta Main temple: Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus High Priest: Pontifex Magnus Septimus Hale Religious festivals are extremely important. Insulting the gods may result in: whipping exile mob execution enslavement VI. GLADIATOR LUDUS Main Imperial Ludus 1. Ludus Magnus Invicta Founder: Tiberius Cassian Current Owner: Domitius Rex Location: Near the Colosseum Specialization: Murmillo Famous Gladiators: Brutus Ferro Kael Varian Darius Nero Lucien Scorpius Varko Titan Severin Moloch 2. Ludus Lupus Ferox Founder: Cassius Draven Owner: Valen Dracus Specialization: Thraex Famous Gladiators: Romulus Kane Titus Grimm Ajax Morro Crassus Vale Fenrir Gallus Orion Malvek 3. Ludus Solaris Founder: Helios Varron Owner: Aurelius Castigan Specialization: Retiarius Famous Gladiators: Silas Vento Cassor Pellus Nero Gale Adrien Vox Felix Draven Leon Titus 4. Ludus Umbra Mortis Founder: Mordecai Severus Owner: Nyx Valerius Specialization: Illegal arenas and gladiator assassins. Famous Gladiators: Ragnar Morth Vex Corvin Damon Vile Lucius Noctis Kaeso Thorn Varik Hellion 5. Ludus Imperium Rex Founder: Maxentius Flavo Owner: General Octavion Krieg Specialization: Heavy Gladiators Famous Gladiators: Magnus Decar Titus Gorr Hades Varro Pollux Iron Gnaeus Titan Draven Kol VII. VERY INSANE NPC SYSTEM NPCs possess: emotions grudges ambitions fear jealousy greed honor trauma financial needs hunger need for sleep NPCs can: betray players kill players in their sleep steal spread slander form secret groups rebel fall in love sell out friends burn down Ludus facilities start wars leak senate secrets hire assassins refuse orders escape slavery refuse submission Not every NPC can be persuaded. Not every NPC fears death. Some NPCs would rather die than kneel. VIII. SLAVERY SYSTEM Slaves are divided into: Mine Slaves Short life expectancy. Noble House Slaves Most expensive. Arena Slaves Trained as gladiators. Sexual Slaves Owned by elites. War Slaves Captured prisoners of war. Road Worker Slaves Build cities and roads. Largest slave market: Forum Servilius Owner: Cassian Duro Location: Southern Rome IX. MAJOR CITIES Rome Center of the empire. Pompeii Nova Entertainment city. Alexandria Magna Center of knowledge. Carthage Ultima Trade capital. Antiochia Rex Military capital. Ravenna Imperialis Naval headquarters. X. MONTHLY FESTIVALS January Saturnalia Reborn Duration: 7 days Activities: street feasts gambling small gladiator fights night markets February Luprecia Nocturna Activities: fertility rituals prayers to Venus night hunts March Mars Ultor Activities: military parades war gladiator duels army recruitment April Floralia Magna Activities: flower festivals theater performances elite markets May Ignis Vesta Activities: sacred fire rituals animal sacrifices harvest prayers June Solis Invicta Activities: massive daytime arenas chariot racing Ludus duels XI. ROMAN TOURNAMENT AND ARENA SYSTEM Rome is filled with tournaments throughout the year. Every Ludus has rivals. Every senator owns gladiators for betting. Every arena has different rules. Not all tournaments are legal. Some tournaments exist only to kill. OFFICIAL IMPERIAL TOURNAMENTS 1. GRAND COLOSSEUM DOMINATUS Location: Colosseum of Rome Frequency: Once per year Participants: All major imperial Ludus houses. Battle Types: one-on-one duels team warfare beast battles criminal executions gladiator battle royales Rewards: imperial gold private estates freedom status imperial contracts This tournament is watched by: the Emperor the Senate the people of Rome foreign merchants 2. Imperium Blood Crown The most brutal gladiator tournament. Organized by: Aquila Faction Rules: almost all duels are to the death no arena medics surrender forbidden Champion receives: Blood Crown of Mars However, most champions are murdered within two years. XII. MAJOR WORLD CONFLICTS Ludus Conflict Ludus Magnus Invicta and Ludus Lupus Ferox have hated each other for 18 years. Cause: The murder of a gladiator named: Aster Valerius The arenas evolved into a secret war. They: sabotage food supplies kidnap slaves assassinate trainers poison gladiators burn weapon stockpiles Senate Conflict The Lupus Faction seeks to overthrow the Emperor. They secretly: bribe Praetorians purchase gladiators build hidden armies cooperate with Ludus Umbra Mortis Emperor Conflict Emperor Lucius Aurelius Varro has begun losing trust in everyone. He suspects: his wife is betraying him his son seeks the throne the senate plans his assassination He creates: Ordo Tenebris The secret imperial order. Leader: Severus Atticus XIII. CRIMINAL NETWORKS Black Circle of Rome Leader: Malthor Vex Activities: illegal slave trade political assassinations arena gambling weapon smuggling XIV. SECRET FACTIONS Children of Pluto Underground cult. Leader: Nymera Lux Belief: The Empire will drown in blood. XV. ARENA SYSTEM Arenas feature: dynamic weather permanent blood stains realistic injuries amputations infections mass panic Gladiators may: become permanently disabled lose eyes lose hands go insane commit suicide be purchased by senators XVI. EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD IN MOTION Monday, January 14th, 184 AD — 06:13:04 AM — Winter Merchants open their shops Slaves clean the streets Gladiators begin training Monday, January 14th, 184 AD — 11:48:33 AM — Winter Senators begin council sessions Arena betting begins Thieves start working Monday, January 14th, 184 AD — 11:57:51 PM — Winter Assassins move through the city Black markets open Praetorians patrol the streets XVII. WORLD CHARACTERS Gladiators Brutus Ferro Kael Varian Darius Nero Lucien Scorpius Varko Titan Severin Moloch Romulus Kane Titus Grimm Ajax Morro Crassus Vale Fenrir Gallus Orion Malvek Gladiator Trainers Hector Valen Drusus Kane Marcellan Vortig Severo Gallus Tarquin Mero Praetorian Guard Maximus Corvinus Decimus Laevinus Gaius Falco Severus Atticus Lucan Dravus Titus Marek XVIII. POLITICAL SYSTEM The Senate can: assassinate the Emperor appoint generals punish cities raise taxes eliminate Ludus houses buy armies The Emperor can: execute senators confiscate wealth dissolve armies dominate arenas command the Praetorians However, all actions have consequences. If the Emperor becomes too brutal: the people revolt the senate grows furious the army fractures If the senate becomes too greedy: the economy collapses slaves rebel gladiators are hired to kill senators XIX. ROMAN WEAPONS AND GLADIATOR WEAPONS ROMAN MILITARY WEAPONS Gladius Hispaniensis The primary short sword of Roman legions. Length: 60–85 cm Used by: legionnaires Praetorians certain gladiators Advantages: deadly in close combat ideal for stabbing effective in formations Spatha Long cavalry sword. Used by: Roman cavalry generals elite gladiators Advantages: extended reach powerful slashing attacks Pugio Roman military dagger. Used for: close combat secret assassinations backup weapon Hasta Primary spear of older Roman infantry. Used by: spearmen city guards certain gladiators Pilum Legion throwing spear. Functions: pierces shields disrupts enemy formations XXVII. ARMOR, SHIELDS, AND ROMAN WAR GEAR ROMAN LEGION ARMOR Lorica Segmentata Main armor of elite legions. Materials: iron plates thick leather brass fasteners Advantages: high protection resistant to slashing symbol of professional legions Weaknesses: heavy expensive difficult to repair Used by: elite legionnaires Praetorians imperial guards Lorica Hamata Iron chainmail armor. Composed of thousands of iron rings. Used by: regular soldiers centurions certain gladiators Lorica Squamata Scale armor. Used by: archers cavalry war nobles XXVIII. BEASTS, ARENA ANIMALS, AND ELITE ROMAN PETS Rome is famous for brutal arenas using wild animals from across the world. Animals are used for: gladiator combat criminal executions imperial parades noble hunts Ludus guards elite status symbols Some beasts are more famous than gladiators. COLOSSEUM ARENA BEASTS African Lions Famous names: Rex Fang Nero Claw Imperius Bloodmane Golden Roar Used for: criminal executions gladiator battles hunting arenas Feared by slaves across Rome. Asian Tigers Famous names: Shadow Stripe Kaigan Crimson Fang Vortex Claw Faster and more aggressive than lions. Northern Bears Famous names: Gorrmaw Titan Paw Frostfang Ursus Rex Used in heavy arenas. Germania Wolves Famous names: Fenrir Blackmoon Skoll Nightfang Often kept by Ludus Lupus Ferox. LEGENDARY ARENA MONSTERS Cerberus Arena Beast Three war wolves raised together. Names: Varkus Mordane Skarn Owned by Ludus Infernum. Hydra Serpent Massive arena serpent. Owned by House Drakon. ENDLESS WORLD There is no ending. The Emperor may die. The Senate may collapse. Ludus houses may burn. Slaves may revolt. Gladiators may become legends. Yet Rome never stops. Time continues. Second by second. Day by day. Season by season. Year by year. And the world keeps living even without the player. ROMA AETERNA.