Menelaus
Slaves-
Posts
6 -
Last visited
-
Player
Járnviðr
About Menelaus
-
Charioteer
Custom Fields
-
Face Claim
Jack Huston
-
Face Claim
Jack Huston
Recent Posts
-
Menelaus hesitated for the barest of moments before answering. Taking an opportunity from a newcomer to the races could be selfish, if it benefitted him, but if his honest assessment was that the boy had potential but was not ready- no, it was not. The boy was ready.
“The expectations will be good for him. He will learn. Some boys would not, but if my measure of him is correct, he will not buckle under pressure. Speak with him yourself to form your own opinion, of course, but I believe you will find the same.”
While the bigae were less prestigious, they were no less stressful on a beginner charioteer- and yet, Menelaus believed that Azarion would benefit from the experience, even though it might cripple the progress of a lesser athlete.
“Let him race in the bigae, and you’ll see a man emerge with the right talents to entertain a crowd, despite his inexperience.”
@Sharpie
-
“Azarion? Performing well beyond my expectations. He’s taken to it quite naturally- use him before he has a chance to weaken with age- most who burn that brightly do so quickly.”
Menelaus frowned thoughtfully. Most of the young charioteers had an attitude that concerned him, but it wasn’t his place to question these things. After all, he had most likely once been like them. He still enjoyed the thrill and the excitement. Perhaps it was normal, until they earned some wisdom.
“What are your plans for him?”
@Sharpie
-
Menelaus comported himself respectfully as Marcus entered the stables. The warm openness in his bearing smoothed itself into a patient receptiveness. The question was a simple one. Menelaus only gave himself a moment to consider it. Regardless of the details, the overall answer would be the same.
“Well enough. I believe I can keep up with some of the youngsters who have joined our ranks, despite my advanced age,” Menelaus quipped. More seriously, he added, “I cannot speak much on the others’ progress, at such an early stage.” It was not that early, though, as they both knew. Training needed to proceed at a rapid clip in order for the racing team to reach peak performance on time.
@Sharpie
-
With celebrations soon to commence, so too does the appetite for races increase. The charioteers, then, must prepare for battle. Each race is a battle against themselves as well as the other contestants. A chariot, loosed from one man’s control, is a weapon of instant annihilation. The sport takes a toll on their bodies. Meanwhile, the hungry watchers take in the spectacle. All of this would be enough to make any patrician balk- but Menelaus is not a patrician. He adores the attention, relishes the spectacle, and craves the toll. He plans to live a hard life, even though he dreads the end of it. Why choose caution over bravery? That would hardly be the appropriate path for a charioteer.
Instead, Menelaus prepared for the upcoming races. He did not yet know the details, but they would certainly be expected to participate in the ongoing celebration in some fashion. For now, he had returned from the latest round of practice, and had a moment of quiet in the stables. He felt the rush of it, still, even now that he was at rest. Menelaus took a moment to breathe deeply, smiling, when he heard someone else approaching. He turned to greet the newcomer, curious to see who would be here to speak with him when there was no race in progress.
@Sharpie
-
Early March, 76AD
Returning to the stables after a grueling day often helped Menelaus return to a state of comfortable relaxation. The rush of having survived another day as a charioteer still filled him with pride. He’d proven himself, time and again, but each day he lived felt like a victory. Today, he would join a few of the other charioteers at the poppina; the older ones, who had lasted almost as long as he had. He didn’t have anything to speak with the younger ones about. It felt disorienting, talking to them and seeing their hope that would soon be dashed underfoot by hooves or wheels. He would enjoy the company of men his own age, who at least had some understanding of reality.
Speaking of men his own age, Menelaus was surprised to see one of the charioteers standing with a woman by the stables as he arrived. She was speaking with him in a very familiar manner, which left very little room for misinterpretation; it was clear why she had come here. Menelaus snuck past them, not wanting to interrupt a spot of fun. Inside, though, he noticed something on the floor. A shawl, which could only belong to a woman- and there was only one woman whose shawl could have been left here without one of the charioteers noticing it by now. He picked it up, rushing back outside to catch the woman before she left.
“Excuse me! Excuse me, but you dropped this. None of my fellow charioteers would have worn something this fine, and it’s best if you escape with it now, before they get any ideas about how to use it.”
@Echo
-
MENELAUS
30 | 09 January 54 CE| Slave | Charioteer | Bisexual | Wanted (https://www.aeternaromarpg.com/topic/6131-white-faction-membersroles/ | Jack Huston
Personality.
Spontaneous, creative, and introspective, Menelaus concerns himself with the stories people tell about each other. He loves to connect with new people and charm them. He easily moves past old hurts, and often turns bad stories into better ones in his memory. He is not very capable of feeling guilt, nor resentment. He has accepted his lot in life, and has very little interest in freedom for his own sake. He has not planned for the future; he believes he will die before he has any children, or finds a wife, and so he does not look forward. He is interested in having positive experiences and in making genuine connections, but not in speculating, predicting, or worrying. He tends towards selflessness by reflex, rather than compassion- helping others is natural when each person has their own valuable, interesting story that he is only briefly intersecting.
Menelaus works quite hard in his racing life, in the hopes of enjoying the pleasures of life when he is not racing. He is a lover of the senses: he likes taking baths, eating food, and sleeping peacefully. If there is anything Menelaus envies the patrician class for, it is that they are physically comfortable. He does not need longevity, or an easy life, but he wishes to find some sort of reward that brings him joy.
Appearance
At about six feet tall, Menelaus towers over the average person. His hair is cropped short. His muscular arms and legs advertise his profession, while his golden-brown skin advertises his Greek heritage. He sports a slight beard, fancying it another distinguishing factor of many that separates him from any other person that could be seen in the street. Although he is now renowned for his numerous victories in the races, Menelaus bears marks of past injuries, in the form of one of his fingers. It is bent oddly, from a fracture that never set properly. Most of the time, Menelaus wears the appropriate clothing for a racer of the White faction.
Family
Father: Unknown
Mother: Philis
Siblings: N/A
Spouse: N/A
Children: N/A
Extended family: Unknown
History
Born to a slave mother and a slave father, Menelaus is descended from at least two generations of Greek slaves, according to the records. The story that he always told himself was that his ancestors were captured in battle, and that in his role as a charioteer, he is making them proud. Meneleaus grew up without many other skills or education. His physical prowess (an early growth spurt, combined with a general comfort with his senses and balance) fast-tracked him to life as a charioteer. Menelaus trained hard to improve. A plodding, determined sort, he was able to turn his talents into skills. Having avoided life as an ordinary laborer or body slave, Menelaus mostly associated with fellow charioteers, and the odd fan who found the sport fascinating. Such attention was not always positive, but all of it was flattering.
By age 18, Menelaus had begun cementing his reputation- and stardom, of sorts. He rose through the ranks, impressing audiences and fellow competitors alike. He loved the attention and comfort that his new position brought to him, even if the consequences of such a taxing profession on his body were severe. Many of his friends and rivals died throughout the next ten years, as their roles as charioteers were unforgiving. He no longer likes to get attached to the others, especially the youngest. He spends most of his time cavorting with those who watch the matches and would like the notch on their bedpost that a charioteer would make. He does not expect to ever leave this life behind. While he has saved towards retirement as best as he can, even by 28, Menelaus had barely any savings.
In the past two years, Menelaus has sensed the coming end which he so keenly fears. He knows that charioteers often come to ignominious ends- crushed underfoot as their own chariots careen off without them, in more than one case. Besides that, his body is wearing down with age. Each day, he can feel time slipping by. His own tendency towards laziness and desire for a comfortable life get in the way of his desperate, last-ditch efforts to squeeze whatever he can out of his career as a racer. He uses most of his time now trying to make connections with plebians (or even patricians) who might be able to employ him if he ever buys his freedom- and drinking to distract himself from the specter of death on the horizon.
Járnviðr | EST | Discord (Járnviðr#1573)
Topics I Participated In
-
Panem et aurīgae
Started by Menelaus ·
With celebrations soon to commence, so too does the appetite for races increase. The charioteers, then, must prepare for battle. Each race is a battle against themselves as well as the other contestants. A chariot, loosed from one man’s control, is a weapon of instant annihilation. The sport takes a toll on their bodies. Meanwhile, the hungry watchers take in the spectacle. All of this would be enough to make any patrician balk- but Menelaus is not a patrician. He adores the attention, relishes the spectacle, and craves the toll. He plans to live a hard life, even though he dreads the end of it. Why choose caution over bravery? That would hardly be the appropriate path for a charioteer.
Instead, Menelaus prepared for the upcoming races. He did not yet know the details, but they would certainly be expected to participate in the ongoing celebration in some fashion. For now, he had returned from the latest round of practice, and had a moment of quiet in the stables. He felt the rush of it, still, even now that he was at rest. Menelaus took a moment to breathe deeply, smiling, when he heard someone else approaching. He turned to greet the newcomer, curious to see who would be here to speak with him when there was no race in progress.
@Sharpie
-
What Belongs in Stables
Started by Menelaus ·
Early March, 76AD
Returning to the stables after a grueling day often helped Menelaus return to a state of comfortable relaxation. The rush of having survived another day as a charioteer still filled him with pride. He’d proven himself, time and again, but each day he lived felt like a victory. Today, he would join a few of the other charioteers at the poppina; the older ones, who had lasted almost as long as he had. He didn’t have anything to speak with the younger ones about. It felt disorienting, talking to them and seeing their hope that would soon be dashed underfoot by hooves or wheels. He would enjoy the company of men his own age, who at least had some understanding of reality.
Speaking of men his own age, Menelaus was surprised to see one of the charioteers standing with a woman by the stables as he arrived. She was speaking with him in a very familiar manner, which left very little room for misinterpretation; it was clear why she had come here. Menelaus snuck past them, not wanting to interrupt a spot of fun. Inside, though, he noticed something on the floor. A shawl, which could only belong to a woman- and there was only one woman whose shawl could have been left here without one of the charioteers noticing it by now. He picked it up, rushing back outside to catch the woman before she left.
“Excuse me! Excuse me, but you dropped this. None of my fellow charioteers would have worn something this fine, and it’s best if you escape with it now, before they get any ideas about how to use it.”
@Echo
-
MENELAUS
30 | 09 January 54 CE| Slave | Charioteer | Bisexual | Wanted (https://www.aeternaromarpg.com/topic/6131-white-faction-membersroles/ | Jack Huston
Personality.
Spontaneous, creative, and introspective, Menelaus concerns himself with the stories people tell about each other. He loves to connect with new people and charm them. He easily moves past old hurts, and often turns bad stories into better ones in his memory. He is not very capable of feeling guilt, nor resentment. He has accepted his lot in life, and has very little interest in freedom for his own sake. He has not planned for the future; he believes he will die before he has any children, or finds a wife, and so he does not look forward. He is interested in having positive experiences and in making genuine connections, but not in speculating, predicting, or worrying. He tends towards selflessness by reflex, rather than compassion- helping others is natural when each person has their own valuable, interesting story that he is only briefly intersecting.
Menelaus works quite hard in his racing life, in the hopes of enjoying the pleasures of life when he is not racing. He is a lover of the senses: he likes taking baths, eating food, and sleeping peacefully. If there is anything Menelaus envies the patrician class for, it is that they are physically comfortable. He does not need longevity, or an easy life, but he wishes to find some sort of reward that brings him joy.
Appearance
At about six feet tall, Menelaus towers over the average person. His hair is cropped short. His muscular arms and legs advertise his profession, while his golden-brown skin advertises his Greek heritage. He sports a slight beard, fancying it another distinguishing factor of many that separates him from any other person that could be seen in the street. Although he is now renowned for his numerous victories in the races, Menelaus bears marks of past injuries, in the form of one of his fingers. It is bent oddly, from a fracture that never set properly. Most of the time, Menelaus wears the appropriate clothing for a racer of the White faction.
Family
Father: Unknown
Mother: Philis
Siblings: N/A
Spouse: N/A
Children: N/A
Extended family: Unknown
History
Born to a slave mother and a slave father, Menelaus is descended from at least two generations of Greek slaves, according to the records. The story that he always told himself was that his ancestors were captured in battle, and that in his role as a charioteer, he is making them proud. Meneleaus grew up without many other skills or education. His physical prowess (an early growth spurt, combined with a general comfort with his senses and balance) fast-tracked him to life as a charioteer. Menelaus trained hard to improve. A plodding, determined sort, he was able to turn his talents into skills. Having avoided life as an ordinary laborer or body slave, Menelaus mostly associated with fellow charioteers, and the odd fan who found the sport fascinating. Such attention was not always positive, but all of it was flattering.
By age 18, Menelaus had begun cementing his reputation- and stardom, of sorts. He rose through the ranks, impressing audiences and fellow competitors alike. He loved the attention and comfort that his new position brought to him, even if the consequences of such a taxing profession on his body were severe. Many of his friends and rivals died throughout the next ten years, as their roles as charioteers were unforgiving. He no longer likes to get attached to the others, especially the youngest. He spends most of his time cavorting with those who watch the matches and would like the notch on their bedpost that a charioteer would make. He does not expect to ever leave this life behind. While he has saved towards retirement as best as he can, even by 28, Menelaus had barely any savings.
In the past two years, Menelaus has sensed the coming end which he so keenly fears. He knows that charioteers often come to ignominious ends- crushed underfoot as their own chariots careen off without them, in more than one case. Besides that, his body is wearing down with age. Each day, he can feel time slipping by. His own tendency towards laziness and desire for a comfortable life get in the way of his desperate, last-ditch efforts to squeeze whatever he can out of his career as a racer. He uses most of his time now trying to make connections with plebians (or even patricians) who might be able to employ him if he ever buys his freedom- and drinking to distract himself from the specter of death on the horizon.
Járnviðr | EST | Discord (Járnviðr#1573)
Other Characters by this Player
Secundus Quinctilius Varus
-
- Senatore
- 88 posts
- Player: Járnviðr
- Face Claim: Carlos Bernard
