Ancient Rome interest check

[PentheWonderful]

Looks good to me. :)

[ElayneTrakand]

Work in progress

Inspiration points = 0 (spent = 1)

Played by: Elayne Trakand
Name: Arieen Eirales
Age: 18
Language(s): Common Brittonic, passable Latin and a little of many others
Role: Bandrúi (Druid) --> Slave

Academics

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Combat

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Communication

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Crafting

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Economics

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Entertainment

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Perception

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Sex

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Stealth

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Survival

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Strengths: Arieen is really good at giving public speeches and giving performances to people. Up until recently she has been given performances and telling stories to her people explaining the stories of Aengus and Danu amongst the host of other figures in their mythos. She is well versed in herbology and how to tend to wounds. She is remarkably well caught up on the goings on of modern science and goings on in the world between her and her husbands training as druids. Similarly, due to having engaged in many sacred rites she was quite skilled in pleasuring the flesh.
Weaknesses: Arieen is not physically strong as she has long been a place of honor in her people and has not had to do much manual labor. She is ok at crafting but has little talents outside of weaving in the subject. She also has a tendency to speak her mind after a long being sought after for advice, which could be a problem in her future.

Sexual preference: No preference
Sexual behavior: Would like to be dominant… but submissive
Turn-ons: (Forced) (Public) Nudity, Bondage, Non-Con, Sensuality
Turn-offs: Beastiality, Scat (though urine is fine), Consensual Anal
Death: Yes

Personality:

• Curious: Arieen has always been interested in learning the hidden mysteries of the world around her. Whether by exploring new areas, learning of herb lore or keeping track of the on goings of the world.
• Risk taker: Arieen was always getting into trouble doing things she probably shouldn't have been. From climbing trees as a little girl to deciding that it was a good idea to jump off 60 ft cliffs into the water below. Similarly she has a tendency to be more confrontational than strictly advisable.
• Compassionate: Arieen has always been one to take care of those around her. Whether it is a simple smile are well timed compliment to one who needs it. Or bigger things, like inviting those in need into her home for a much needed meal and a place to sleep.

Goals: Ratted by the sudden change in her reality she wants to so some combination of the following depending what she can achieve.

• Escape/Gaining her freedom (I don’t want this)
• Trying to ensure the best for Briton during the impending invasion, stop it if possible
• Make the best of her new life try to find some degree of comfort and control

Background: Arieen’s parents were killed in a skirmish between tribes when she was a little girl and she been taken in by the order of druids and was trained to become a bandrúi. In this training she was taught all manner of skills ranging from how to make use of local plants in medicine to the political state of the world. She was taught various languages or at least bits of them.

While she was in training she was regularly going out running into the woods alone or with a couple of her friends and getting into all manor of outdoorsy activities from climbing to rafting hollowed out canoes. She often got told off for sneaking out and putting herself in danger but she did not care much as the out doors were so exciting. One evening while she was sneaking out she bumped into another trainee as she stripped to go skinny dipping in the near by lake. The other trainee's name turned out to be Tadg and after a while they struck up a friendship.

As their training continued they were taught various rights and rituals that were part of their religion. They were pleased when they were both selected to preform the spring fertility rite. Soon after she married Tadg and she was raised to the order of bandrúi. Then she began to instruct her people of their religion and tended to the people’s physical and spiritual needs. She began to take place in spring fertility rights. Arieen and Tadg traveled from town to town filling what needs the people had and telling preforming their histories as narratives.

In the past few months, the Romans have started invading her people and raiding the area. She was in a small little village near the boarder when a sudden raid swept in through the area. Tadg was killed during the raid and she was captured. Soon enough she wing shipped back to Rome and was set to be sold as a slave.
Miscellaneous:

More (NSFW) pictures

[Kayrax]

Hey, looks good so far.

I notice you chose to exchange inspiration for skills, meaning you still have 3 points you can allocate. My guess in Communication based on your Strengths?

Just making sure but the Forced and Public turn-ons are in parenthesis because they're supposed to be conditionals for Nudity?

As a woman, much so a slave, the odds of her stopping the invasion of Britannia is nothing short of a pipe dream. It's somewhat endearing if she thinks it's actually possible though

[ElayneTrakand]

I mean depends who she is bought by. A letter lost here a (bad) forgery there she can try (and fail).

As for the parentheses before nudity, written out I would mean
Nudity,  but in particular forced and or public nudity.

[Hob]

I think I may have come too late to this party.

[Kayrax]

@ElayneTrakand Yup, that's what I thought too - nudity would be fine, forced and/or public nudity would be better essentially.

@Hob You're not technically late since things haven't actually started yet but I do confess I'm at a loss as to what I might even suggest as a similar alternative. Aside from the fact that Vigiles Urbani wouldn't be formed till the reign of Augustus, even after they were formed the members would pretty much patrol at night and put off fires and possibly act as cops of sorts. Was there something in particular about that idea that initially drew you towards it?

[Vergil Tanner]

After some consideration, PentheWonderful and I have decided to withdraw our interest due to personal and creative differences with the GM.

I wish everybody still involved in the game the very best. Have fun, guys!

[Hob]

The Vigiles Urbani were really the first organized firefighter/police in Western history, so there was great appeal there in terms o role playing out its creation and formation. Yes, in their official capacity their duties were originally carried out at night; it would be the perfect time to look for escaped slaves, observe illicit rendezvous, and carry on a little action of their own on the side. There also remains that they did still have time of their own. There would be plenty of daylight for other scenes to take place outside of watching for fires and catching miscreants. Not to mention clashing with the Pratorean Guard.

But the reason I say that I’m too late to the party is that every time I come up with an idea... the nature of the RP changes. Originally, it was to be set in Britain, in which case I was all set to do a centurion. I even have an idea in my O/O thread about a Roman Officer and a Pictish warrior. Then it got changed to Rome itself. Then there was the but about not having to be overly historically accurate, which was fine by me... to then have my other idea shot down because it was just a little off the timeline.

I could add more, but the point is that I can’t keep up. I’m online (actively) about once a day at best. So it’s difficult for me to provide any meaningful input while staying abreast of the changes.
Thus... I am too late for this party.

Best of luck!

[pendarious]

ok sorry I'm late to checking in. I'm fine with the family set up on the previous page and to both Vergil Tanner and Penthewonderful I hope you both have fun in whatever endeavors you get into ^_^

[Kayrax]

@Hob The first considered setting was indeed Britain, in which case I'm curious why didn't you make your presence and interest known at that time. The second setting did change for Rome but there were no real changes after that however, let alone the sort that might occur on a daily basis. By not being overly accurate I meant reach a point that would force players to deal with too much extra knowledge of the time and customs... not so much altering the timeline. There was actually an alternative to the Vigiles Urbani in the form of Triumviri Nocturni that operated during Caesar's time but I figured they wouldn't interest you on account of them being slaves themselves, meant to deal with fires and possibly let their masters know of any juicy scoops they might stumble across. Good luck to you as well though!

And as far as everyone else is considered, I'm almost done with a post that will better explain the setting and what you might expect in the game. Should be up maybe today or tomorrow. I also finished my gladiator's CS if anyone's interested. The other one's still a work in progress, though I suspect I might be able to reveal it with the previously mentioned post.

My gladiator's CS

Inspiration points = 0 (spent = 1)

Played by: Kayrax
Name: Draco (Scorys)
Age: 34
Language(s): Latin, Dacian/Thracian
Role: Indulging gladiator

Academics

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Combat

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Communication

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Crafting

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Economics

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Entertainment

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Perception

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Sex

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Stealth

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Survival

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Strengths: Badass, Can read and please a crowd
Weaknesses: Arrogant, Self-absorbed

Sexual preference: Screw the women / Humiliate the men
Sexual behavior: Sadistic dominant
Turn-ons: Cruelty, Fear, Pain, Torture, Humiliation
Turn-offs: None
Death: Maybe

Personality: Easy to figure out given his skills (bashing heads and slashing throats) and interests (good wine and even better women). Not necessarily the silent, brooding type but definitely not much of a conversationalist. His performance in the arena is typically violent, raw and savage - moreso than even typically expected - and his bedroom behavior isn't much different. Greatly enjoys the fear, respect and adulation he instills into others. Despises the Romans for conquering the world around them yet secretly envies their numbers, their might and most of all their predilection for self-indulgence and excess.
Goals: Continue winning and improving his popularity / Continue enjoying the attention and all the rewards that come with it
Background: Born in 89 BCE, Scorys spent his childhood and teen years learning, surviving and taming the Carpathian Mountains which proudly stood as his home. Living was generally harsh, food was scarce and the risk of getting mauled by wild beasts or freezing during long winters was always present. And if such perils weren't enough, various other tribes continuously attempted to invade the natural fortress in order to acquire the large deposits of valuable ores. But the Dacian people, of which Scorys himself was part of, were not mere shepherds or hunters. They were warriors and they had been living and defending themselves for whole centuries, for as long as their ancestors could remember.

So when the new king Burebista successfully brought all Dacian tribes under his crown and made it clear that his intentions were to defeat all nearby enemies and in so doing conquering more territory to possibly try and live free and in peace, Scorys heeded the man's call to arms. He joined the ranks of the disorganized yet determined army that the new king assembled and before long he found himself fighting and killing for the promise of a better life. Boii, Taurisci, Scordisci - they all tried invading his own people in the past and he was all too happy to turn the tables on them and to be on the attacking side rather than forced to defend that which he held dear. As the body count left in his wake kept increasing, the man himself slowly forgot just what exactly he was fighting for. He just knew he had to fight and in any fight there could be only two outcomes - kill or be killed. And he for one wasn't yet ready to return by the Father Sky's side.

Eventually though they ran out of people to kill or invade. Their own territory had expanded to the point where it could no longer be easily defended against outside threats. And that is when Burebista, in his infinite wisdom, looked to the south-west and realized that sooner or later they would have to fight another enemy. An enemy that was unlike anything they faced before. An enemy that they did not fully comprehend, let alone try and prepare against. That enemy was Rome. And even though the Romans made no clear indication that they were going to invade, Burebista could tell that it was only a matter of time before the eyes of that hungry beast would turn towards their own hard-won lands.

Some preparations would of course be attempted - a period of peace would be required so that families could be brought back together and so that some of their numbers could thus be replenished. Also some training was in order and of course the crafting of plenty new weapons too. And at certain strategic locations mighty reinforcements would be built so as to ensure their safety. And yet all those preparations didn't feel like they'd be enough. Tales of the Roman legions conquering new and unheard of territories did reach even their ears and so the wisest among them worried that there might have been more to the large Republic than simply met the eyes. A plan was thus set in motion - to send scouts and spies throughout its ever expanding territory and learn as much of this future threat as they possibly could.

Scorys was among those chosen for the task. He was by no means particularly subtle or discreet and yet the many battles he fought did earn him the respect of his brothers-in-arms. None of them doubted he was a valuable warrior and so figured he could take care of himself no matter what. He departed the lands he came to know and love and made his way south, towards the nation that Burebista assured them they'd end up fighting some day. Learning their language was rather difficult but it wasn't that which proved the most difficult thing for Scorys to deal with. Rather it was their lifestyle and strange customs. Those were almost alien as far as the Dacian warrior was concerned. They had nobles and commoners back home as well yet they never kept slaves. Those who surrendered in battles were kept for a while but usually they'd either be ransomed back or possibly allowed a chance to switch sides provided they showed themselves worthy enough. They lived freely and yet they were not supposed to pursue other women save the one they chose to make theirs. And then it was their job to protect her till death. That wasn't all though, for they also had foods the likes he never dreamed before, wines that were sweeter and richer than anything he previously tasted and there were also the stone roads and the bathhouses too, and that was naming only a few. Back home they occasionally bathed in mountain streams or other bodies of water that were nearby, on rare occasions even using nothing but the rain...

The cultural shock was immense and it actually took Scorys months to get his head around all those changes. And by the time he did so, the once proud Dacian warrior found himself slowly losing himself in the new world. At least until a brothel brawl got out of hand and Scorys ended up maiming the pimp running it and also killing two of the latter's bouncers. He escaped easily enough but was ultimately apprehended a few days later as he was attempting to make his return home. He had only a small dagger to defend himself against several fully armed soldiers and knew that he probably could take a few of them with him - his final kills before he would no doubt be put down himself. Scorys even considered making that last stance and proudly going to meet his maker and yet the little knowledge he learned of the Romans told him that as a slave there may yet come other opportunities to get free. So he instead surrendered, allowing himself to be captured and sent to a Roman quarry where he was supposed to extract marble for a period of ten years. Essentially a slow death sentence given that there were only a handful of condemned criminals that ever managed to serve their time and make it out alive, though severely weakened and with difficulty breathing and moving about.

The captured warrior tried playing the role of a good prisoner for a few days, hoping to find some opening he might exploit and make an escape. When he found no such thing he realized the error he had made. Next morning he offered one final prayer to Father Sky and by noon he was pummeling down on a Roman guard. He disfigured the man but much to his disappointment failed to either escape or die in the attempt. Instead he was locked back up and before he knew it, the Dacian captive was ushered in a medium sized arena and told to put on some resistance so that the crowd wouldn't be too disappointed with the show. He had actually seen a couple of gladiators fighting once before but this time around himself and a bunch of other criminals armed with only wooden swords were supposed to stand up against gladiators half their size yet armed with proper weapons. Outrageous... and yet the man figured that was his god's way of allowing him to die in battle, as befitting a true warrior. What followed was pretty much the one sided massacre that everyone came to expect, save for a couple of gladiator casualties.

By allowing a couple of other criminals act as decoys, Scorys did succeed in disarming one of his opponents - swiftly snapping the man's neck and using the spear he acquired to fend off against the remaining three opponents. The odds were still against him but when the other criminals rallied behind him the tides actually turned and through some miracle both himself and two other slaves were left standing. There was a long silence following such an outcome and by the time everyone snapped out of it Scorys could already see the Roman guards preparing their bows. The crowd noticed too and it was at that point that they finally reacted - loud cheers followed and the expected arrows never came.

After that particular display Scorys found himself sold to a lowly lanista. It was only after winning a couple more matches in a different arena that his new master became curious enough to ask him whether he had a name. When no answer was given Leo was suggested by the lanista, supposedly because the Dacian fought like an enraged lion. It was then that Scorys scoffed and told his owner that he was a dragon - the same symbol that Burebista chose for their people. The same symbol that gave them strength. That made their blood heat up and that always reminded them that there was an assured place for them by the side of their deity that lived beyond the clouds. The lanista merely laughed and walked away but the next time that Scorys fought in the arena he was actually introduced as Draco, which was Latin for dragon...

Over the years that followed he managed to acquire some amount of fame and recognition - not to mention plenty of scars as well. He was also traded and bought by three other masters, the last of which actually rewarded his more important victories with either fine wine or slaves and prostitutes to help deal with his other urges too. Although the gladiator never fully forgot his mission, the Dacian did learn to slowly get used to his new life. He told himself that if he kept on killing enough opponents and making a good show of it then maybe the Romans would think twice to attack a people of similar warriors. It was something he occasionally told himself before important battles, yet each time the words felt more and more hollow...

More pictures

[Kayrax]

Game description

The game will be set primarily around the city of Rome and its outskirts, with occasional mentions, flashbacks or even traveling to other locations. The starting year will be 55 BCE, a time during which Rome was still a Republic, albeit one slowly fading and getting replaced by a different type of government. The Triumvirate - consisting of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus - was still going strong and each of the three leaders tried expanding the glory of Rome, not to mention their own. Caesar himself was rather busy at the time trying to conquer Gaul, though did manage to find the time and cross the English Channel with 2 legions boarding 100 ships. The journey was not uneventful and a few of those ships did sink during a violent storm, but the majority of Caesar's forces managed to land and even push their way deeper inland. Given their fairly limited numbers, the Roman invaders chose to focus on raiding parties, the sort that were meant to help them scout the terrain, while at the same time also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the natives. Having completed that forced reconnaissance, Caesar and his his legionaries retreated back into Gaul, planning to first subjugate that region before returning in full strength to add Britannia as well to his growing list of conquests.

Events such as the above will occasionally be featured throughout the game, although poetic license will be taken on occasion - not too frequently and nothing too major however. Besides, what the game will focus on is not the retelling of Roman history but rather the untold tales of a fictional household within that great city. Enter the Visellia family, of equestrian rank - placing them just below those of senatorial rank while still being counted as aristocracy. Like most other families sharing the same rank, the Visellii too were previously focused on long serving military careers... at least until commerce restrictions were laid on the senatorial class, but not also on the equites (think Medieval knights). It was the point where power and wealth saw a bit of a divide, with the former remaining in the hands of senators but the latter being slowly diverted towards the only other Roman nobles. And like a good deal of other such families, the Visellii similarly turned their focus towards tax collecting - which was without doubt the single most profitable venue during those particular times. Public contracts to collect such taxes would periodically be offered, the winner of such an auction earning the right to keep all the extra profit for themselves. And there was usually plenty of such profit to be had - particularly when bribes and other fraudulent methods were employed... which was most of the time.

Something that the Ancient Romans were well known for was their extremely patriarchal society. Only male citizens were allowed to vote or hold any meaningful positions and jobs, with women expected - or forced at times - to obey either their fathers or their husbands. The former head of the Visellia family was Titus Visellius Varro, a well known and generally well liked publican (public contractor). The man died unexpectedly a few years back, making his eldest son - Lucius Visellius Varro - the new master of the house. Currently the household keeps a dozen guards, placed at the mansion's entrances and tasked to guard the gladiatorial stock they have on hand. They also maintain about as many slaves, including a specialized cook and gardner, with the other ones expected to handle more general tasks such as cleaning, serving food and drinks, running the occasional errand and of course sex if so desired. More importantly is that they recently started keeping a few gladiators on site, usually between six and twelve - definitely no more as there would be no more secured cells to keep them in however. The revolts that previously plagued the Romans some fifteen years prior weren't fully forgotten of course, but enough time since then had passed to once more make such violent shows a desired form of entertainment - a rather profitable one as well. Especially when it was suggested that gladiators could have their uses even outside the sand of the arenas...

OOC concerns

I find it impossible for a single person to fully anticipate all the questions that other people might have about anything and this particular game is no different. I will try to mention a few issues that have a higher chance of being inquired about but if the answers you seek aren't listed in what will follow then just ask me directly. Same thing if you instead want some more clarifications or perhaps some examples. So short story - if ever in doubt then just ask.

Most people writing on Elliquiy are either veteran roleplayers or at the very least have some experience roleplaying. Assume as such that things that generally stand true for most other RPs will be similarly true for this one as well. You should also use regular common sense whenever possible as that's going to be the leading principle as we push forward. There might possibly be some instances where modern common sense would perhaps need to be replaced by the historic climate but generally such cases should be fairly rare I believe.

This particular game will be played in the Extreme section of the site, meaning that each player is free to take things as far as they are comfortable. At least when involving nothing but NPCs. I would ask that if two or more players decide to plot something extreme on their own, that they first discuss some of those details among themselves and ensure everyone understands what is desired and also expected of them. By its very nature the game already features a slavery theme but please make the distinction between characters (potential master-slave shenanigans) and players (actual people with equal rights, including the right to decline any ideas they're uncomfortable with). To try and facilitate communication and pairings, but also to attempt to prevent such cases in the first place, I'll request that all players make use of a heading in all their posts. Please tag whether the scene you're part of (or starting up) is supposed to be closed, open for all or possibly open for just a certain player or players. Similarly provide any warnings you feel might be approppriate. Said headers will also link to the approved character sheets and I suggest visiting said page(s) and checking for potential conflicts as far as ONs and OFFs are concerned.

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[hr]

Though the game is based on historic events and facts, players aren't actually expected to know the details of that time period, the Roman society, culture, laws and traditions. It'd be great if they would of course, as that would add to the authenticity and flavor but like I said, no extensive research will actually be forced upon anyone. If however there will be a problem involving such issues, well that's what I'm here for I suppose. Since I've already done a bit of research on the subject, it may be possible that I already have a useful link or two in case anyone will require explanations or clarifications on a specific subject.

This isn't the sort of game where posting order is required - not at this stage at any rate. As far as frequency is concerned, I would prefer at least a weekly reply from folks though am aware that life can get hectic at times. If you know a rough patch is coming up for you then just let me know if you're able. Likewise if you feel the need for a break or otherwise decide to abandon altogether. If that's not the case, then by all means feel free to post as often as you'd like and are able to - provided at least that doing so wouldn't move time too quickly for anyone else that might be present in a particular scene. And as for post lengths - I won't actually force any limits one way or the other but I would like for posts in general to move either the main story or their individual plots ahead in some manner. It is generally accepted that "more is better" in case there was any doubt on that matter.

Each player can have up to three separate characters at a time. Minor NPCs can be introduced and played around with however you desire. Major NPCs as well for the most part, though possibly ask first if those are meant to be played a certain way or are otherwise kept around for some specific plots. Character death may or may not also appear in this game, but it's generally a matter of choice rather than it being forced down on anyone's throat. To that end, even if a player has listed a certain character as "free to kill", it might still be a good idea to ask them if you have such thoughts in mind. Besides, it is sort of the polite thing to do...

The game can either be played entirely freeform or, if it's so desired, the attached simplistic skills system can be used instead. I will occasionally make certain rolls behind the scenes to determine various outcomes because I find a certain element of surprise and randomness rather thrilling as opposed to forcing everyone to follow my vision of events or otherwise going with majority decisions each and every single time. Should conflicts occur between two players (not necessarily the violent sort) then it's possible for said players to either decide on a mutually agreed upon result, have me as GM decide on one instead... or for full transparency we could use the Dicebot and roll for such an outcome instead. All of this will be decided entirely by player choice however.

Assuming dice rolls are however desired, then they'll work in the following fashion: 6d6, extra=6, add=? (where ? is based on skill - 0-6 depending on the number of filled dots: 0=0, 1=1, 2=3, 3=6 - and any other modifiers that would maybe make sense such as equipment, number of NPCs present, status effects, etc.), TN1=2, TN2=6. For those with some experience involving systems games, that means a total of 6 six sided dice, with rolls of 1 (critical failures) counting as 0 (and thus dismissed), rolls of 2-5 counting as 1 and rolls of 6 (critical successes) counting as 2 and getting re-rolled. A single such roll will be required from either two or more participating players, or possibly from a player and the GM assuming NPCs are involved. The latter won't happen too frequently as for the most part PCs will win against NPC no matter what action is attempted. In particularly exciting situations however (either dangerous or holding the potential to vastly change things as a result) such rolls might be required though - or at least they will happen behind the scenes. Players can either make the actual rolls themselves or ask me to roll on their behalf. The results would then be compared and should they only have a difference between 0-3 points then the result will be a draw/stalemate, with possibly one player having a tiny edge over the other one but not really enough to push things over the edge. If the difference is between 4-6 then one player will be rewarded with a hard fought victory. If the difference is between 7-9 then one player will have a fairly easy win. A difference between 10-12 would lead to a flawless victory and on the off chance that the difference ends up larger than 13 then the victory would be achieved in a positively spectacular fashion... as if the gods themselves might've been involved.

I shuffled through various system books, as well as wiki sites and the like and I came up with the following set of skills:

• Academics - knowledge of various subjects (history, geography, religion). Investing points in this essentially makes a person look very, very smart.
• Combat - weapon and armor proficiencies, offensive and defensive skills, special attacks. Investing points in this makes you a stronger fighter than most.
• Communication - persuasion, intimidation, deception, manipulation, etiquette. Invest points here if you want a sharp/gold tongue.
• Crafting - woodworking, stoneworking, metalworking, repairing. Invest here if you basically want an artisan.
• Economics - identifying goods, bartering, having trade connections and generally getting discounts. Invest here if you want to spend less and earn more.
• Entertainment - storytelling, poetry, singing, dancing, rousing a crowd. Invest here if you want the extra attention and the chance to impress some bigwigs.
• Perception - observation, awareness, intuition. Invest here to maybe catch the sort of details that others might dismiss or even miss out on entirely.
• Sex - knowledge of what/when/how to touch, various positions and techniques as well as endurance. Invest here for all kinds of pleasure.
• Stealth - ability to stay out of sight, blend in and possibly do a bit of stealing on the side. Invest here if you hope to go unseen and unheard.
• Survival - ability to stay healthy, live off the land, recognize/make/treat poisons, treat some wounds or diseases. Invest here if you want to avoid an untimely death.

There are a total of four tiers for all these skills:

• ○○○ - You have no knowledge or experience (modifier=0).
• ●○○ - You have the basics down (modifier=1).
• ●●○ - You're rather good at it (modifier=3).
• ●●● - You are positively exceptional (modifier=6).

		○○○		●○○		●●○		●●●
Academics		Ehm... what now?		The world is round!		Teacher		Walking Wikipedia
Combat		How do you hold this?		Stab others, don't get stabbed yourself		Only two of you? Bring it!		Arena champion
Communication		I am Groot!		Know when to shut up		Make plans with others		Win most debates and arguments
Crafting		Cut a finger in the attempt		Don't break anything		Handy repairman/woman		Master craftsman
Economics		I traded everything for a magic bean		Probably won't be cheated		Enjoy the discount		Get paid for financial advice
Entertainment		Tone deaf		Can keep a rhythm		Suitable for a relaxing evening		Encore! Encore!
Perception		Damn hole appeared out of nowhere		Elliquiy is an 8 letters word		Eavesdropper		That pouch is missing 2 coins
Sex		Dead fish / Premature ejaculator		Forgettable		Everyone is quite happy		Sex god(dess)
Stealth		I'll shove my head in the ground		I need a disguise		Pickpocket		Ninja
Survival		Sun rises either in the East or West		Maker of wild fire		Hermit/Hunter		Medic

Everyone will have 20 points to distribute however they deem fit. The first dot costs 1 point, the second dot costs 2 points and the third one (surprise, surprise) costs 3 points. So if you want to max out a skill, that would require a total of 6 points. The modifiers would similarly represent these costs - if you have no points invested in a skill then you need to rely entirely on luck. If you have a single dot then you'll add 1 to the total you rolled. Two dots means you add 3. Three dots means you add a grand total of 6. It's also possible to exchange Inspiration Points for skill points. Normally the latter can be used for a chance to re-roll at anytime so it's up to you whether you'd rather hang on to a potential "get out of jail" card or if you instead wish to further improve on a skill.

Character template

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[float=right][img height=300 padding=5]https://www.nomadfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/placeholder-1-e1533569576673-960x960.png[/img][br][center][color=navy][b][i][font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Inspiration points = 1 (spent = 0)[/size][/font][/i][/b][/color][/center][/float]
[b]Played by:[/b] [url=][/url]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Language(s):[/b]
[b]Role:[/b]
[center][table][tr][td][center][b]Academics[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Combat[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Communication[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Crafting[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Economics[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][/tr]
[tr][td][center][b]Entertainment[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Perception[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Sex[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Stealth[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][td]      [/td]
[td][center][b]Survival[/b][/center][/td][td]      [/td][td]○○○[/td][/tr][/table][/center]
[b]Strengths:[/b]
[b]Weaknesses:[/b]

[b]Sexual preference:[/b]
[b]Sexual behavior:[/b]
[b]Turn-ons:[/b]
[b]Turn-offs:[/b]
[b]Death:[/b]

[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Goals:[/b]
[b]Background:[/b]
[b]Miscellaneous:[/b]
[center][spoiler=More pictures][img height=300 padding=5]https://www.nomadfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/placeholder-1-e1533569576673-960x960.png[/img][/spoiler][/center]

Above is the code required for any submitted character sheets and following are a few guidelines meant to help everyone figure out how they ought to fill those empty spaces:

• You'll need to replace the placeholder's link with a faceclaim of your own choosing. Something that looks 16+ so we can be in accordance with site rules. I would prefer actual photos rather than drawings and no, I'm not really interested in the faceclaim's name or occupation. It's a first come first served sort of deal so make sure not to use the same model that someone else might've picked - though honestly that very rarely happens in the first place.
• You might notice that I've added something called Inspiration points under the picture's location. For those having played D&D in the recent years, you already know what those are and for those of you who are in the dark, essentially those are points awarded by a GM for various reasons which happen to often be somewhat subjective. I'll be awarding them on a regular basis for activity, occasionally for quantity/quality of writing and possibly (meaning it might not happen after all) for various other reasons that are likely to be somewhat subjective. There will be no limit to how many such points a player can have at any given time. As to what they'll be useful for in this particular game? Basically the chance to ignore a previously made roll and the attempt of a brand new one... or if you prefer, the option to exchange those points for skill points at a 1:1 exchange ratio. More on skills below...
• If you know how to modify the Played by tag yourself then by all means go ahead, but if you're uncertain as to how you should do that just skip it and I'll sort it out on your behalf. Initially I wasn't going to add this tag but I figured that if anyone was to disappear or leave altogether, then I'd end up taking over such characters if they are vital to any ongoing plots. This is meant to serve as a temporary fix so if you get back and want to rejoin the game with that same character just send me a PM and I'll hand back the ownership.
• Name should be self explanatory though maybe not as easy to figure out if you want to be accurate. You might want to take a look at this or even this if you're building a Roman character. They basically have First_name Family_name Weird_name - you're probably already familiar with how the first two work but the third one is trickier as it's generally used only by the aristocracy or if it is awarded as a sort of nickname. In formal speech or official situations the first two, or possibly all three might be used. In informal situations, like say a meeting among friends, generally only the third one would be used instead. That's true as far as the Roman male population is concerned. For Roman women, their First_name became the feminine form of their father's Family_name. Assuming there were more girls in a family then their nicknames would actually reveal the order in which they were born - "older" and "younger" or "the first", "the second", ..., "the sixth", etc. If you are a male member of the main family then you should pick something whatever you like for your First_Name, stick to Visellius for Family_name, and pick something you like for Weird_name... or maybe go with Varro which would be a cognomen typically associated with the family. If however you wish to play as a female descendant of that family then you would be forced to go with Visellia as your first name and possibly Major, Minor, Prima, Secunda, etc. as your second. In public such a character would be addressed by either Visellia Varris if still unmarried or Visellia Husband_Cognomen+is if married. It can get somewhat messy so either read through those links for a bit or just ask me more details in private if you're having trouble deciding. If you're a slave however, of regular variety or a gladiator, then either your first name might've stuck if you're lucky or the owners might've changed it to something they could remember more easily. So if your original name differs from whatever you're being called presently just use the present name and add in parenthesis your old one. Depending on locations, these names could contain one, two, three or possibly more words. Check conventions for whichever culture you're going for or just ask me for help is you're uncertain.
• Age is entirely your choice so long as it's 16+, so as to fit with the site's rules.
• I added Language(s) because barriers might pop up. Roman citizens would naturally know Latin. The well educated ones might also know Greek. And if someone spent a good deal of time on some campaign then odds are they might've picked up a bit of whatever language the natives were using as well. If you're a captured slave then you likely have a native language and possibly (though not mandatory) Latin as well. I suppose it would depend on whether they might've learned at some point, or might've just picked it up after having spent enough time in the company of Romans.
• Role is more or less your character concept, ideally with a bit of flourishing if you can manage it. What do I mean by that? Basically your character's role in the Empire - things like senator, general, merchant, slave, gladiator... then your character's role within the household they are part of - such as father to X, husband to Y, brother to Z, cousin to U if we're talking masters of the house or something along the lines of - general slave, or personal slave to master/mistress X, bath slave, kitchen slave, pleasure slave (that could easily become pain slave), etc.
• Here's a filled dot - ● - for you to copy/paste and replace in the skill section of the CS. Like I said, there are 10 skills, the first dot costs 1 point, the second dot costs 2, the third costs 3 and everyone has 20 points in total to fill out however they choose. Keep in mind that the entire system is optional to use and also that you can spend Inspiration points to get more of these skill points. At character creation you only have 1 so you might possibly spend that and get 21 points instead if you're going for a particular starting build.
• You are free to either fill in the Strengths and Weaknesses sections or possibly leave them empty - in which case just remove them altogether. I'm not limiting the number you can add or enforce any ratio either. If you do choose to fill these in then these S/W could reflect the above skills or might reflect their personalities or backgrounds.
• Next is the sex & death section and the first thing on that list is the Sexual preference tag. Normally this might be called orientation but if you happen to be a slave then you don't honestly have a lot of choice in the matter. And since it was already agreed to play this out in the Extreme section of the forum, that means NC elements can and possibly will occur, including the possibility of forced gay/lesbian interactions. Ideally these should still be okayed OOC or at least discussed beforehand but assuming everyone's okay with the risks involved then maybe it would be more entertaining for such surprises to just pop up somewhat unexpectedly (though hopefully not without any reason at all though). Anyways, the correct answers for this section should be either a) men, b) women, c) no preference.
• Sexual behavior should be likewise fairly easy to determine. Basically it's a choice between the classic: a) dominant b) submissive c) switch, though you are free to possibly add in a few extra details after establishing that. Things like getting off on inflicting or receiving pain, the release of control, exhibitionism, voyeurism, etc.
• Turn-ons/offs are essentially your ONs and OFFs. Fill these out with whatever kinks you want to see and experience and whatever kinks you'd rather avoid instead. If sexy times (consensual or NC) are about to start I would recommend those involved to possibly click the links in the headers and take a quick gander over these sections first. I'd rather avoid OOC drama rather than waste time and effort trying to fix it so please be considerate of each other's tastes and especially each other's limits!
• Death refers to the possibility of permanently losing a character. Fill it in with Yes if you don't have a problem with it, with No if you don't want it to happen no matter what or with Maybe in case you're open to the possibility should it first be discussed with you and consent would be provided afterward. I already mentioned there will be a maximum limit of 3 characters per player. These characters can either be retired or killed off at which point you'd be free to come up with a different concept, apply a new character sheet and after receiving the go ahead you'd be free to hop right back in.
• The next section is entirely your choice how you fill out. Personality is somewhat important so ideally I'd like at least 5-6 key words to describe the character. You can either just mention those or you could instead take the time to clarify some of the things by writing the details in paragraph form.
• Goals is somewhat optional but I would like to see at least one short term goal and one long term goal. Could be more of course...
• Background, backstory, origin, history - whatever you want to call it. I'd like at least three paragraphs describing some of the character's life up until the point he/she joins the game. Focus on whatever you like - childhood, teenage years, personal connections, friends and family, feats and exploits, capture (if we're talking slaves), marriage (whether applicable and regardless of whether or not the spouse might still live or not), traumas, etc. Assuming you have a somewhat strong character concept in mind then I honestly don't think that 3 paragraphs minimum should pose that big of a problem.
• Miscellaneous is for whatever extra bit of information you might want filled in that doesn't quite make sense in other sections of the sheet. Maybe you want to mention hobbies, astrological signs and all manner of random stuff that might nonetheless prove even mildly useful later on. If you have nothing to add then feel free to remove this tag instead.
• Oh and the More pictures spoiler is in case you want to find and then add more pics of your character. That is entirely optional so if you're not interested in that, or you simply can't find such pics then feel free to remove the spoiler line entirely.

The above is more or less a summary of what a person can expect going forward, any expectations and possible systems to consider. If others are interested by this, then the game shall remain free to join at any time. Meanwhile though I'd like to get the whole thing actually started and I was thinking maybe this weekend would be a great time to do just that. To that end I would like all remaining participants to please send me your finalized character sheets. I myself still need to submit the Dominus character (Lucius Visellius Varro, 35), it's up to Foxy whether she wants to add any more info in her background as otherwise her CS is already completed, ElayneTrakand still needs to finish hers and I've actually received no other CS from anyone else. Be sure to ask if you need any assistance or information for such a goal.