Gothic

THE CURSUS HONORUM The Senatorial Course The Course of Honor during the Principate had been modified from the traditional course that existed during the heyday of the Republic. Required ages were dropped for almost every magistracy, years of service, and the duties for each position also changed significantly. The goal with the Course was to both have a system that would create talented, experienced politicians and magistrates, while also ensuring that the traditionalists felt important and needed within the new system. VIGINTIVIRI (college of twenty) The vigintiviri, which literally translates to "twenty men" was a collegium, or college, of minor magistrates. The college consists of four boards, each with differing responsibilities. Its purpose was to give up-and-coming young nobles their first taste of politics and governmental responsibility, however it wasn't confined only to young men. Senators of all ages filled these posts. The four boards were as follows... decemviri stlitlibus iudicanus -- ten men who judged lawsuits, especially the civil status of slaves and freedmen. treseviri capitales -- three men who were in charge of prisons and the execution of criminals. treseviri monetalis -- three who were responsible for the minting of coins. quattorviri viarum -- four who were responsible for the maintenance of roads in Rome. Office Info: Age requirement of 18 years Elected annually on the 10th of December (1 year terms) No limits on terms; can be consecutive --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRIBUNUS LATICLAVIUS (military tribune) The next step in a budding senator's career was into the legions so that he could receive some formal training in warfare. Tribuni Laticlavii were always in their early 20s and were typically requested by family or a close friend of the family who served in a more senior legatus position. They were officially second-in-command to the legion, though often were placed in charge of smaller units rather than the entire legion itself. Usually those who didn't excel in this stage of the course were skipped over when it came to positions as a legatus, or legatus augusti. Office Info: Age requirement of 20 years Selected by the legate based on need (2-3 year terms) No limits on terms; though one term is typical --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QUAESTOR (secretary; treasurer) The office of quaestor was one that changed significantly with the reforms of Augustus, though it still retained its importance. Election as quaestor officially enrolled a young man into the ranks of the senate and thus he could enter into the Curia as a back-bencher. Quaestors served mainly as secretaries or treasurers, their duties including keeping accounts on the public and military treasuries as well as keeping records. Many were employed within Rome itself, while others were sent to the provinces to perform the same tasks. Augustus also created the post of Quaestor Augusti, four men, hand-picked by the emperor himself, to be his personal secretaries and messengers. Office Info: Age requirement of 25 years Elected annually on the 10th of December (1 year terms) No term limits; not typically repeated or consecutive --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AEDILIS (aedile; public service official) More than any other office, that of Aedile lost much of its former glory and purpose with the changes of Augustus. Where before the Principate the main function of Aediles was to oversee the grain and the upkeep of public buildings, after Augustus' changes, newly-created posts (often given to Equestrians) were given those tasks. The position of Aedile remained and technically had the same functions has always, though very often senators preferred to skip the office--as the only way to succeed with it was by spending large amounts of personal wealth on the restoration of temples, aqueducts, and roads. Office Info: Age requirement of 27 years Elected annually on the 10th of December (1 year terms) One time term limit; not repeated or consecutive --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAETOR (judicial official) The office of praetor was the first of the 'major magistracies' in the Cursus Honorum, and even in the time of the Empire it was both prestigious and important. The general duties of praetors was to serve as judicial officials, and they had considerable importance when it came to matters of the public treasury and individuals. There were sub-divisions of the office that existed from the Republic but were filled by individuals of the emperor's choosing: the Praetor Peregrinus who oversaw legal matters between citizens and non-citizens, and the Praetor Urbanus who oversaw legal matters between all standard citizens. Office Info: Age requirement of 30 years Elected bi-annually on 10th of December (2 year term) No term limits; could be repeated and consecutive --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGATUS LEGIONIS (legionary legate) A new 'office' made official by Augustus' reforms, the posting as a legate was an option available to those men who preferred a military rather than civil career. Quite often the men who went on to be legates were closely connected to the imperial family and well-trusted. Legates of the legions were not supreme commanders or field commanders, instead they were generals in charge of individual legions. They answered to the emperor, in technicality, though in practice their superior was the governor of the province where the legion was stationed. Office Info: Age requirement of 30 years Selected by the Emperor (typical term of 3 years) No term limit; extensions determined by the emperor --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROPRAETOR (non-military governor) Though this step was only available to those who had served as praetors, the propraetor was essentially a governor of a senatorial province--that is, a province that had no standing army or legion. While perhaps in command of local auxiliary forces, they were not placed in command of the empire's legions. Their posts were peaceful and not entirely lucrative, but still important. A former praetor could stand for proporaetor immediately after his term as praetor ended. He answered to the senate in technicality, which of course answered to the emperor. Office Info: Age requirement of 31 years Chosen by lot when needed (typical term of two years) No term limit; extensions determined by the senate/emperor --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUL (head of state) Formerly the highest position on the Course of Honor, the consul of the days of the republic was the man of the state. He held the most imperium, power, though it was shared with a junior colleague. In imperial times the seat of consul was still important, though there were varying degrees of importance. Those who sat as ordinary consuls (were elected in on the first of the new year) than those who were selected as suffects later. Likewise, to share a consulship with the emperor was considered a great honor. In the empire the consuls answered to the emperor, but if the emperor was a warring sort, they were largely left in charge of the state. They had the power of veto over any decision, each consul could veto the other, though they could be out-vetoed by the Tribune of the Plebs and the emperor. They also had the final say on senate decisions and elections, as well as declaring acts of war and peace. Office Info: Age requirement of 32 years (typically 35 or older) Elected annually on the 10th of December (1 year term) No term limit; not consecutive except in extreme cases (typically one term) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGATUS AUGUSTI PROPRAETOR (military governor) The top of the Imperial Course of Honor was that of a military governor. By law it was the emperor who was technically the governor of every imperial province. Of coruse he couldn't physically be in every province at once and so this position was created. Legate, in this sense doesn't mean "general" so much as envoy, or servant of the emperor--though they were very much generals in their own right. These men were very well connected, very powerful, and well-trusted by the emperor. Chances at military glory in defense or in offensive wars were theirs, and though all victories were technically the emperor's, they could still receive great honors and awards. They had under their command all the magistrates of their province, as well as the legionary legates in the field. They answered only to the emperor. Office Info: Age requirement of 34 years (though typically 38 or older) Selected by the emperor when needed (usually 3 year terms) No term limit; could be extended and consecutive with same or different provinces The Equestrian Course Along with Augustus' reforms of the Senatorial Course of Honor, a similar course for Equestrians was created in order to secure the loyalty of the Knightly class. Though it began on the same step as the Senatorial Course, the Equestrian Cursus Honorum quickly separated and focused more on military service than official duties. Whereas the Senatorial Course remained a bit more rigid and tied to tradition (esp. with required ages) the Equestrian Course was much more fluid. General minimum ages are found, but the exact route that a man took over his career depended largely upon how he performed in his youth and even more so upon his relationship with the emperor. VIGINTIVIRI (board of twenty) Same as the above information. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAEFECTUS FABRUM (adjunct to praetor/proconsul) The original post of praefectus fabrum, which translates to "head of technicians" was as just that: the chief amongst military technicians. During the Principate the name of the office remained, but its purpose changed drastically, and actually had nothing at all to do with engineers or technicians in the legions. The Praefecti Fabri of the empire were appointed by praetors and more commonly proconsuls (rarely by the emperor himself) for confidential missions or tasks. Office Info: Age requirement of 20 years Selected by praetors/proconsuls/emperor when needed (2-3 year term) One term limit; not repeatable --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAEFECTUS COHORTIS (prefect of aux. cohort) The next step for rising Equestrians was a post as the prefect of an auxiliary cohort. The auxiliary troops were non-citizens, though they did live within the empire itself. They were typically men of a "barbarian" origin who wanted to become a part of the Roman machine. Through 25 years of service, they could earn citizenship. A commander of one unit would be in charge of around 5-700 men. He was always under the command of the provincial governor and typically stationed away from the border. Office Info: Age requirement of 24 years Selected by the emperor when needed (3 year term) No term limit; consecutive, repeated terms allowed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRIBUNUS ANGUSTICLAVIUS (military tribune) Contrary to the military tribune of the senatorial course, the equestrian tribune was actually an experienced leader and fighter by the time he was enlisted. This wasn't a necessary step for everyone, though those equestrians who proved their capabilities as a tribune often rose to very high levels later on in their careers. These tribunes (there were 5 per legion) were often placed in charge of larger detachments of troops called vexillations, or put as commanders over several cohorts of auxiliary troops. Office Info: Age requirement of 28 years Nominated by governors and approved by Caesar (3 year term) No term limit; consecutive, repeated terms allowed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAEFECTUS ALAE (prefect of aux. cavalry) Those equestrians who truly shined in their prior positions as prefects and tribunes often continued to serve in the provinces. The last step of this military service was a post as the commander of an auxiliary cavalry unit. These units were rare and not nearly as numerous as the infantry cohorts, therefore they were considered a greater honor. Added to that, prefects of alae often had a considerable amount of decision-making power, allowing them to proactively attack enemies and potentially gain personal glory. Almost every Praetorian Praefect in the history of the empire was formerly a cavalry prefect. Office Info: Age requirement of 32 Nominated by governor/selected by Caesar (3 year term) No term limits; consecutive, repeated terms allowed --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRIBUNUS COHORS URBIS/PRAETORIAM (cohort tribune) After completed service in the military an equestrian had many options available to him; he could continue in the military, though in a more senior position that saw less action, or he could go straight to civil administration (see procurator below). Those who chose to remain militarily-minded often became tribunes within one of the two semi-military units in Rome: the Urban Cohort (a police/firefighting brigade), or the Praetorian Guard. Typically one would first become a tribune (or even centurion) in the Urban Cohort before enlisting in the Praetorians, but the order depended upon favors and who one knew. Regardless, the positions were more or less the same, the only difference being that the Praetorians were paid more and often became much more involved in the political aspect of Rome--as the fate of several emperors was decided by Praetorians, especially in the later empire. Office Info: Age requirement of 34 years Selected by the Praefects of each unit (3 year term) No term limit; decided based upon service --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROCURATOR (secretary/judge/mn. governor) For those equestrians who wanted a taste at civil administration, the offices of procurator were available. The term 'procurator' meant many different things, and indeed there were many different positions available to successful knights. A Procurator Augusti was more or less the governor of a smaller province, or an allied-state that had Roman troops in its land. The Procurator Ludi Magni were overseers of the imperial ludii (gladiator houses). They worked closely with the Caesars to plan games and entertainment and also would know aediles and praetors. Lastly, the Procurator Ab Rationibus was open only to one man, and he would be the secretary of Caesar, usually responsible for his written correspondence. It wasn't at all unusual for men who completed this step to "go backward" and serve as tribunes. Office Info: Age requirement of 34 years Selected by Caesar based on need (3 year term) No term limit; could be consecutive and extended --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAEFECTUS (senior magistrate) The final steps of the equestrian course, that of senior magistrate, or praefectus was coveted by many by only held by a very elite few. Typically those who rise to this level were favorites of the emperor and had had their careers accelerated by him. Though technically of the same ranking, there were four different praefects who really had different levels of power and influence. First was the Praefectus Annonae who was in charge of the grain supply in Rome. Second was the Praefectus Vigilum, the commander of the Urban Cohort who served as a counter-balance for the Praetorians. The third and fourth spots altered in importance, though typically the position of Praefectus Aegypti was held prior to a man becoming the commander of the Praetorian Guard as Praefectus Praetorio. It was not uncommon for those in the third and fourth positions to hold their offices for as long as their emperor did. They also were quite often enrolled into the senate by their sponsoring emperor and then enjoyed the course of the senators. Office Info: Age requirement of 37 (though typically older) Selected by the Emperor (3 year term) No term limit; terms were often extended/repeated Non-Course Positions As it had been within the Republic, there were many positions in the empire that were not strictly a part of either Course of Honor. Generally speaking these positions were held by senior magistrates whom had either served to great capacity already, or who were awarded the positions by Caesar for a particular service, or because of relations. These positions were very limited and coveted. They were often taken by Caesar himself, but just as often awarded to deserving members of the government. There is no flow chart--as there is no order--but they are listed in ascending order of prominence. ADJUTOR (assistant) An unofficial position, that of adjutor, or in latin adiutor was held by very young men helped into the course by their family. They served as assistants to any governmental official who would have them, doing a variety of relatively mundane, tedious tasks. Some might be little more than clerks, doing tasks similar to personal slaves, though the experience and exposure to powerful politicians was something sure to help the careers of young men. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A STUDIIS (imperial tutor) The imperial tutor was more often than not an equestrian, though at times senators were also chosen. This position was very prestigious and only given to those greatly trusted by the emperor (or his wife). The imperial tutor had the mind of caesar's heirs in his hands to shape and to mold and if his relationship with his pupil was strong and healthy, he would always live a life of happy retirement. If it was the opposite, he would be one of the first to be exiled... or worse. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROCURATOR A PATRIMONIO (Cae's accountant) This position was most often reserved for the freedmen of the Caesars, as they had--during their time as slaves--served in a similar capacity. This accountant was responsible for the personal expenses of the emperor as well as for keeping a balance sheet of the empire's income and outflow. There were equestrians and at times even senators who filled this position, though again typically those men had close ties and strong loyalties to the imperial family. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAEFECTUS URBI (mayor of Rome) Another consular position created by Augustus, this one post took on the responsibilities of many of the more traditional offices of the republic. The Mayor was mostly responsible for the upkeep of the city and the organization of games and public displays. He worked closely with the Vigintiviri, Aediles, and Praetors--as their responsibilities often overlapped. He was also the head of the Urban Cohorts, the praefect of that police and peace-keeping unit answering to him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCEPS SENATUS (leader of the house) A position that lasted through the fall of the republic and creation of the Principate, the Princeps Senatus was in all ways the "leader [or speaker] of the house". This title was often used by the emperor himself, though just as often it was given to the next most senior senator--a senator of age who had served the state well and acquired much dignitas. The Princeps Senatus was highly respected by all and responsible for the calling of senatorial meetings and ensuring the laws of the constitution were followed--as they pertained to everyone except the emperor. It was a position that one often held for life, or until he fell out of favor with the Caesars. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PONTIFEX MAXIMUS (chief religious officer) The Pontifex Maximus, which literally translates to "greatest bridge-builder" was the chief religious official of the empire. He was in charge of the college of pontiffs and thus in charge of Rome's religious cult. This position was always coveted for it was a man's to wear for life and also gave him a personal house (the house of the Pontifex Maximus) that technically belonged to the state. From the time of Julius Caesar until Theodosius III, every emperor took this title. It gave him great authority over the state, with the power to postpone anything, including games, celebrations, elections, even marriages. His religious superiority also gave him the power to make gods out of his family members. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCEPS IUVENTUTIS (prince of the youth) This was more of a title than an actual position, and was first used by Augustus as applied to his grandsons (and adopted sons) Gaius and Lucius Caesar. It officially marked the chosen successor to the Principate and gave said inheritor considerable dignitas--no matter his age.

Map of the Empire. Map of Rome. This map has all the changes that have been made IC wise and any historical features.

Slavery Romans treated slaves in a variety of different ways. For some, they were a valuable asset, for others they were treated harshly and would never experience freedom. Types of slaves were; gladiators, cosmetics slaves (), miners, farm hands, nannies, wet-nurses, Freeing slaves The act of freeing a slave was called manumissio, from manus, "hand" (in the sense of holding or possessing something), and missio, the act of releasing. The freeing of slaves was often time a public ceremony performed before some sort of public official, usually a judge. The ceremony would include the owner touching the slave's head with a staff, and after such, the slave was free to go. However, sometimes, simpler methods were used. Either via the owner exclaiming the slave was free to go, via a will or even having the owner simply invite the slave to sit and recline with them at dinner time. Slaves were freed for various of reasons, either because of good deeds or out of friendship and respect. Sometimes a slave could buy their freedom, however most often than not, this wouldn't be until the slave was no longer able to work. And the owner would require the slave to purchase their replacement and thus left to live on charity for the remainder of their days. Freedmen When slaves were freed they became part of the Freedmen class (Liberti) and their sons would be considered Roman citizens. They would become patrons to their former Dominus. Sources of slaves Debt, prisoners of war, parents selling their children into slavery, born into slavery, criminals. Handy links.

Men's Clothing "" - Toga Quote here. Overview. Roman Types of Toga The Toga was a symbol of Roman citizenship. Toga Virilis - Toga praetexta - Toga candida - Toga pulla - Toga picta - Trabea - Religious Leana - Military & Armour. Goes here. At home Goes here. Jewelry Goes here. Hairstyles & Facial hair During this time period (on AeRo) men were often clean shaven. Sources

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The Gangs of Rome The Servian Collegium Run by Appius Vitellius Scaurus Minor Originally referred to as the Servian Collegium after its founder, the Collegium is controlled and funded by a nobleman of considerable influence and financial means – one Appius Vitellius Scaurus Minor. Though the Collegium enjoyed the perks of being the undisputed top dog of the Roman underworld for decades, it is now on weak footing after fighting a bitter turf war for the better part of the past decade. The Collegium has a shaky truce with The Syndicate, and continues their grinding war against The Apolloni while being neutral with the other gangs. Their main sources of income are money-lending, and high-profile assassination contracts. The Syndicate Run by Marcellus Severus Minor Founded by Marcellus Severus, a plebeian equal parts insane and genius, the Syndicate went through its own period of weakness after Severus’ murder. The gang’s turf split between its captains who warred against one another, or joined in with rival gangs in attempts to call themselves Head of the Syndicate. Roughly five years ago, Severus Minor – Marcellus’ long-lost son – defeated the various would-be bosses and has claimed control of the gang for himself. They also dabble heavily in prostitution with Marcellus' wife, Titania Novella, owns the Domus Venus, the best brothel in Rome. They have both high and low end prostitution rings. Though weaker than they have been in the past, the Syndicate still makes good profits from lucrative smuggling – particularly of grain and exotic imports from the east. They maintain a truce with the Collegium, are neutral with The Apolloni, and hostile with The Mandatum. The Mandatum Run by Oppia Nitra Originally founded as a sub-gang to the Syndicate, their loyalty broke upon the murder of Marcellus Severus. Seeing an opportunity before them, the Mandatum quickly snatched up pieces of the Syndicate’s territory as well as encroaching on their business of smuggling. They are involved in protection for businesses, and have been known to attack clients of other gangs if the need arise. They are equally matched with the Syndicate. They are hostile with The Syndicate, and maintain neutrality with the other gangs of Rome. The Lovers of Eris Run by Antonia Vitellia Though on the surface the women of Eris appear to be simple courtesans, they are much, much more. Controlled and funded by the very wealthy Equestrian noble Antonia Vitellia, The Lovers of Eris are trained in the arts of seduction, manipulation, espionage, and assassination. Their biggest commodity is information, and their biggest client (for information) has been the Caesars. Though technically not an organized mob-oriented gang with a “standing army” like the other gangs of Rome, The Lovers of Eris are at various times threatened by the other gangs of Rome. They maintain a careful balance of alliances with the other gangs to ensure their survival. Lupii of Roma Run by Titus Justinius Canicus Phiscerus Having remained neutral during the conflict between Clemens and Caesar. They offered support to Caesar. Neither favoured nor hated, they do Caesar's bidding. Typically they influence the racing games and the gladiatorial games. Because Justinius also owns a Ludus, this lends to the gang's ability to roll in the money in their original pursuit: betting scams. The Lupii make most of their money rigging the games that take place at the Ludus and, if they find it in their reach, at other game places as well. A partially-cut stirrup on a saddle, a dull sword instead of a sharp one and one man could make a fortune in the space of an hour. The only question, of course, is how much you're willing to pay for the sabotage... The Apolloni Run by Publius Suetonius Metellus Originally a splinter faction of The Collegium, The Apolloni have successfully chipped away at The Collegium’s powerbase over the past decade of Quintus Caesar’s rule. Led by Publius Suetonius Metellus (just called Metellus), they originally were funded by Clemens and took in several of his praetorian cronies after his fall from power (bolstering their numbers). The Apolloni are in a never-ending war with The Collegium, and maintain hostile relations with The Lovers of Eris. They are neutral with The Syndicate. Their main sources of income are extortion, ransom, gambling, and slavery.

Marriage & Divorce in Rome. Marriage This has largely been simplified for the sake of AeRo. There are three main types of marriage in Ancient Rome during this time period. Confarreatio was reserved for the Imperials or the upper levels. Many conducted Coemptio or Usus styles of marriage. These are; Confarreatio Considered a public ceremony. Ten witnesses. Was religious in nature. Only the children of parents married confarreatio were eligible. b Coemptio gg Usus The is also concubinage which is described as, "." Essentially, this was for a freedwoman (or a man) to live in a marriage like state if he does not have an uxor (or legal wife). <Name for slave marriage here> Was the marriage between slaves. Later <> Inheritance & Kids. Children from <> were considered legal children. Children from <> were not considered legal. Divorce Divorce was done for the following reasons; Sources & References

Ludii of AeRo. The Imperial patron is the individual who holds the contract the Ludus. They are responsible for the Lanista as all Ludii are controlled during this time. Technically, all gladiators were also owned by Caesar. However, in AeRo we are permitting people to own and patronage gladiators while the Ludii (Gladiatorial schools) are all owned by Caesar. Each Ludus has an Imperial Client (Equite) who manages the Ludii. The Lanista is hired (or the Imperial client) who will train the gladiators and so on. Players who take on the Imperial client canons are able to create Wanteds to fill in the various roles. Loose Guide: An Imperial Patron holds the contract. There is competition to keep and to maintain the various contracts. A Lanista is the trainer of gladiators. A Doctore is the supervisor, usually a former gladiator himself. Primus: The champion or the most successful gladiator of the ludus. Medicus: Slave or freedmen responsible to keep them freed. Gladiators: Whether owned by Caesar or by others who are currently in training. LUDUS DACICUS "Many of the original gladiators came from the campaign from Dacia. Now? They come from a variety of sources from all across the Empire." Imperial Patron: Titus Justinius Canicus Phiscerus (available) Lanista: Doctore: Primus: Medicus: Other gladiators: LUDUS MAGNUS "The most prestigous of the Contracts available. The gladiators from the Ludus Magnus come from mixed sources. " Imperial Patron: Appius Albinus Posca (available) Lanista: Doctore: Primus: Medicus: Quintus Flavius Theodorus Other gladiators: LUDUS MATUTINUS. "The smallest of the Ludii. Yet one that is slowly rising in favour." Imperial Patron: Aulus Collinus Minor (available) Lanista: Available slot. Doctore: Primus: Medicus: Other gladiators. LUDUS GALLICUS "Gladiators that typically come from criminal sources. Piracy and the like, it gives them a chance of redemption or death." Imperial Patron: Tertius Muritanius Albus (available) Lanista: Available slot. Doctore: Available slot. Primus: Available slot. Medicus: Available slot. Other gladiators.

Main Plot It is the year 826 since the foundation of Rome, and it is an auspicious year. Exactly one-hundred years ago, Caesar Augustus, son of the Divine Julius Caesar, was granted powers that cemented him as Princeps – first among his peers. The breadth of all his powers were summed up in his title Augustus, and his reorganized version of the ancient Republic – known as the Principate – was born. Yet, much more prevalent in the minds of the people is the celebration of their current Princeps, and the decennium pacis – Decade of Peace – he has brought to them. Ten years have passed since the devastating civil war that saw the empire torn apart. Rome is flourishing under Quintus Flavius Caesar Alexander, whose firm leadership has brought a period of growth and stability almost on par with that of Augustus himself. The brother of the former Augusta, maternal uncle to the nearly lost Julio-Claudians, son-in-law to senate leaders, and a decorated general in his own right, Caesar Alexander has proven himself to possess all the necessary qualities to unite a society previously torn apart by internal strife. To the north, Caesar Alexander's war in Britannia has officially ended with a victory declared for Rome… but strife remains as the northern tribes grow more and more restless, and Roman adventurers and merchants grow greedy for the riches in the island off Britannia’s western shore. Across the channel in Gaul, Caesar’s brother Jullus Flavius Alexander maintains a tight grip over the Rhine Frontier, and prepares the legions there for a long and brutal fight against the ever-encroaching Germanic tribes. Rome is simply waiting and watching for a cassus belli to send her troops across the Rhine and complete the annexation of Germania Magna that the emperor Tiberius started so many decades ago. Though the empire’s eastern border is secure and at relative peace, the threat of war is ever-present. Where Rome has enjoyed peace for the past decade, her great rival Parthia has been torn apart by internal war. Distracted by the threat of the Aorsi – a threat that Caesar was instrumental in creating – Parthia called upon armies of mercenaries to do her fighting and secure her borders. One among them, an army of Hellenes from Bactria, led by their courageous general, defeated the Aorsi and secured the empire… only then to begin a war of their own. Calling himself Seleukos, in the manner of the Seleucid kings that followed Alexander the Great, this Hellenic general has taken great swathes of land from Xerxes Arsaces. Rome remains neutral in the fight, but maintains her frontier defenses. In Rome itself, the senate is the most unified it has been in many decades. The faction politics that reached their height under the rule of Honorius have since replaced by near unanimous support for Caesar's guidance of the state. Caesar Alexander has modeled his rule greatly after Divine Augustus, and maintains a careful balance between his role and that of the Senate. It has proved to be a great factor for stabilization, as Caesar and his men maintain the empire at large, while the Senate maintain Rome, her historical territories, and her traditions. With no major wars to campaign in, and a lack of political strife to stroke their egos, the powerful men of the state have started to find their fame and worth through service to the empire. Senators compete to become Caesar’s favorite (or if not Caesar's favorite, then the favorite of his brothers, sons, or family) through their good works; to become consul ordinaries, to have a temple donated in their name, a good command given to their sons, or even marriage into the lower rungs of the Flavian family – these are all goals which ambitious men now aspire to. While working against one another, they work for the good of the state. While Caesar Alexander maintains a firm and steady rule after ten years at the helm of the empire, there are those who wonder whether or not the peace will last for another decade, or even longer? Welcome to Eternal Rome... what part will you play?

Features Guide. Enable and add statuses. Either go to the sidebar or to your profile. Or use the sidebar. Change your notification settings. How to edit your password. Change your account settings. Click on the arrow pointing downwards to the right of your name. Click on account settings. You will be able to edit a range of settings. Edit your player profile. Or go to the upside down arrow to the right of your name, go to profile and then go here. Edit your display name. (Please post on the following thread to let the staff know about the name change.) Creating a blog. Click on create a new blog. Then fill in the information. Once you are done. Click on continue. Posting on your blog. Commenting on a blog. Tagging a member. Put @ and then start typing their names. When it appears click it. It should look like this. Tagging for content. The rules state for content. Making a report. Please describe the situation with the post, blog entry, gallery image or anything else. Please note that any administrative action is a staff decision. Posts. To the right of a post hover and you will see the report symbol. Click it and open it up to this. Report a member. Goes here. Report a blog. Goes here. Using the activity tracker. To view everything that has been posted on the site here. Monitoring things you have posted. Go to the Activity Tab. Click on Content I Started. Adding your avatar. Click the picture image to the bottom left of the ciruclar one. Upload it and click save. Adding your profile cover picture. Click the upside down arrow to the right of cover photo. You may remove, move or upload another one. When you are happy with the results to click save.

Mission Statement & Site Culture Mission Statement. Be an active community of writers from all over the world who work together to create a collaborative story. To educate about Ancient Rome together along with the other cultures that inhabited the world at this time. To be an alternative historical world of Rome during this time period and offer a mix of accuracy along with creative freedom. To be a welcoming RPG for people where they can improve their skills in a safe and friendly community. To have an active IC and OOC community. Site Culture AeRo aims to be a supportive community that supports members whether or not they have a formal education in Ancient History. The site primarily is the writing community first, and supports creativity and learning in an enjoyable atmosphere.

Newbie Guide. Firstly! Welcome and glad to have you with us! The site can be pretty daunting. This guide is to help you get accustomed to the board and what we have to offer. Before you begin.... Firstly, check out the rules. Check out the F.A.Q and the Mission Statement & Site Culture. This will help you get an idea about us as a community, and help you get involved. Check out the features guide that is available for you to learn the software. Basically, editing your profile, adding a status, creating a blog, and updating your avatar, etc . Any questions? Post them on the OOC help board or on the IC help board. Or alternatively, feel free to DM or PM a staff member. The next bits..... Register an OOC account. This will be the account that you connect your IC accounts. Feel free to set it up and decorate it anyway you like. Make an intro to the community.... Your intro thread will help us know that you are not a bot and want to be part of the community. Don't be shy! The information.... Check out the Main plot to let you know what is happening around the site. Check out the Site Timeline, too. AeRo is AU and has gone off-course what happened in real life history. Here is also a link to the Site Information to help you get a feel for the world. However, the Site Timeline is the most important to read and will save you edits requested by the staff. The Wanteds, Canons or an Original....... Check out the Wanteds, they are made by members for their plots. Check out the Canons, they are made by the site and usually in powerful positions. Or think about making an original character. To create a character.... Now you can create your character. Fill in the application and remember WIP are welcome although they get cleared out every so often. Make sure to mark it as being complete when you are done and then wait for acceptance. If a staff member requests you to make an edit, please comply so we can get you rolling asap! Reviews are made through PM on the site. Once you have been accepted a reply will be posted and your application will be moved to the correct place in the Character Directory. A plot or two? Fill in a plotter to connect with other people. Feel free to add any more characters to this as you like and reply to other people's plotters.

F.A.Q GENERAL QUESTIONS Are you looking for staff members at the moment? Not currently. When we're in need, we'll post an announcement! Does it cost money to have Aeterna Roma hosted? Yes, and all costs are paid by the creator/owner, Gothic. Am I able to contribute funds to support the site? Yes, if you feel so inclined. Please PM me for more details about how you can contribute. In the future there will be an easy method for people to choose to donate. Is Aeterna Roma free to play? It certainly is! There are no hidden costs of any kind. Why all the Latin use? We decided to use Latin to make the game feel more authentic and realistic. The city of Rome is split into the regions that were created by Augustus; the provinces are not listed singularly but instead in geographical groupings, but with original names. Why is "City of Rome" in plural? & Other Latin questions "The City of Rome" can translate in two ways. The older version is the one we use: Urbs Romae. "Romae" itself is the Latin noun Roma in three different noun cases, depending on the context. Here it is in Dative singular, which signifies the word "urbs" (city) as the city of Rome. It has become more common in recent decades to use the spelling Urbs Roma; both are correct. For the most part, we've named boards according to our own personal research; some areas have been added or modified for the purposes of plotting. I am not a native English speaker. Am I welcome here? Yes, please ensure to have a good grasp of the language and there have been many players who have had English as a second or third language. Posts on AeRo are made in English. CHARACTER RELATED How many characters can I have? Five is our recommended number, as generally most people have a hard time keeping any more than five characters regularly active. Technically speaking, you can have as many characters as you can actively play. Activity is determined by the staff, and so if you become inactive with too many characters, you may be asked to drop some. How many canon characters can I have? See the above answer. Remember that canon/wanted characters belong to the site (or the creator) and so, should you become inactive (without an away notice) with one, they will be taken from you and placed up for adoption once again. How many wanteds can I create? This is based on the needs of the site. Generally, if you need members of your character's family for his story (that you cannot NPC), make them as a wanted. Please PM a member of staff before creating any large adoptable families or ones connected with the Imperial family. If you wish to create ones associated with other families it is strongly recommended that you contact the players associated. Mutual respect is necessary. How long does it take for a character to be accepted into the game? This depends on the application. Some apps have little to nothing to correct the first time through, while others might need a lot of revision. The easiest way to ensure a speedy acceptance is to comply with any revisions that the staff request you make, and to ensure you have read the information provided for you. How do I delete a character/account from the site? Please send a PM to a member of staff with a request to have that particular account removed from the site. The character's app/bio will be archived. If the character is a canon or a wanted, it will become available for adoption. Can anyone contribute to the main site plot? Anyone can participate in major events, yes. While there will only be "one" main plot, instead of several main things going on at once, AeRo is free-form in RPing style, meaning that players are encouraged to engage in their own plots. Staff will act as guides and offer advice as needed. Any major gambits that would significantly affect the site do require that you contact staff to consult with first. Am I able to play a real life historical character on the site? Members are able to play characters inspired by historical people. However, they will not have the same achievements nor abilities that they would have in real life history. It can cause confusion or frustration for all the players involved. An original, wanted or a site canon character is preferred and strongly recommended over these sorts of characters.

The Rules. F.A.Q || Mission Statement & Site Culture. || Newbie Guide || Main Plot || Conduct. All members must be 18 years or older to register an account with us. We are 333 on the RPG Rating system. Members are expected to be polite and to behave maturely. Harassment, hate speech, or discriminatory speech is not permitted. Respect your fellow RPers. Warnings and bannings will be given for breaking the rules or otherwise creating a negative atmosphere that is unpleasant for members. These are done on a case by case basis for violation of the rules. Please use the reports system to let the staff know what has happened on the site. It is a staff decision what the outcome will be. If you have any issues with the site. Please contact a staff member for assistance. If you have any issues with a player or staff member please contact the staff privately through IM or DM on Discord. Do not steal content from the site or members of the community. Advertising goes on the advertising board only or on OOC member links. Absence If you are going to be absent beyond a week please give notice on the away board on either the discord or the absence board. Absences beyond a week should be posted on the Absences board. Registration & Accounts We use an OOC (Out of character) and IC (in character) mask system here. To create your character mask please use this guide. Remember to register your OOC account first. No duplicate OOC accounts are permitted. Any duplicate accounts will be deleted. Activity Checks & Inactive Member Group AeRo does have two activity checks per year that members are expected to reply to. These will be publicised through the Announcements forum. AeRo follows a passive activity check (silent sweeps). One IC post every ninety days is needed to maintain activity levels. Once this is passed, the inactive member will be placed in the Inactive member group and the claims will be made available once more. If a member reactivates their character through an IC post everything is reinstated. If a member misses another sweep their account will be deleted if they have not gotten in contact with us. If a member is absent and leaves a notification of absence then everything is maintained. Applications An approved application is necessary prior to play with that character. You have a month to start and finish your application. After that, all reserves (face and canon) will be voided and your application will be archived. (added 6/2020) All character applications must be posted using the IC (character mask) not the OOC one. Edits are able to be made although please remember to inform a staff member to let them know an edit has been made. This is a trust system we have with the players. Players who violate this will have their threads locked. WIP applications are able to be posted. Please note that every so often they are cleared out and archived. If you would like to have it brought back, PM a staff member. If you require any assistance please send a message to a staff member. We are happy to help! If you wish to join as a foreign royal please check the foreigner canon list first, and speak to a staff member to get approval before posting your character. If you wish to apply for a member of an existing family (which may be a canon/wanted) please speak with the player/s of the existing family beforehand. If you wish to have familial relations to the Imperial family or Julio-Claudians, please contact a staff member before applying for the character. Canons & Wanteds Site Canons are defined as characters made by the site for site purposes, or they have many powerful connections. Wanteds are defined as those made by players for the purpose of filling a role they would like to be played. Members are welcome to create their own Wanteds and post them in the correct group. Wanteds are only permitted to be posted after a character as been accepted. Roleplay. No word count. Threads marked open are open for all. Anything that would likely have a large impact on the staff should be discussed with the staff prior. This is so it is AeRo friendly, and so we can offer you advice and tips on getting the most out of it. Examples of these things include; large economic issues, natural disasters, major battles, etc. If you have proceeded without checking with staff first. There will be requests for edits to be made or the thread will be moved to the AU board, and marked as AU. Timestamps are used on AeRo. Date(optional), Month Year This helps with the archiving process and keeping track of threads. Deceased characters are able to be post on the Back in Time and AU boards only. If you would like to play a canon character you previously played that passed away, please PM Gothic to check it if is okay. While the site allows members to write their characters out of the story (so long as it does not break site canon). If a member leaves the site, wanteds or canons become available once more. We reserve the right to write your character (especially high ranked) out of the story. Please post a final post and alert the Historian account with a tag to let them know it is ready to be archived. Content warning tags. Respect your fellow role-players by using content warnings in your posts for any graphic content. Please add the following tags to the tag listing. Use S for sexual content. Use V for violent content. Use SV for sexual violence. Reports System. Reports can be made about members, posts, blogs, and any records we have. When making your report please remember to add why the report is being made. If it concerns a member, the discussion will remain private and the reporter will receive a message to inform them that it has been resolved. Tag a member. To tag a member in a post simply add @theirname and it will come up. Statuses Members are welcome to use the status system. However, members must wait until their original status is no longer on the index page before they post another one. The Historian and Time-keeper Accounts. The Historian - This account is used during the process of moving all the old content from the different boards. The Placeholder - This account is the transferal of all current threads. Staff NPC - For all the different types of staff NPCs that will be used on the site. The Newsreader - The IC Newsreader. Princeps Senatus - A NPC used to open and close the Senate meetings. Blog. The AeRonian is the blog used by staff to update the community on all things associated with the site. Members are welcome to comment and to add their thoughts. All registered members are permitted to have a blog. Members can use it as a personal blog or or RP related things. No singling out other sites or members. The rules for the board also apply for the blogs. Images & Face claims. No hot-linking of images. Please host your images to Nickpichost or another image hosting provider. Avatar sizes are 250x250 px. However this will resize, but it must be squared. (updated 6/2020) Face claims are on a "first in, best dressed" basis. While historical garb is nice and adds to the aesthetics of the rp, you are not required to have a face that has played in a historical based movie. Use the face you desire to use. (added 6/2020) Reservations are able to be made. However reserves do not go up until you have a WIP app up. Reserves last as long as the WIP is up. (updated 6/2020) Face claims MUST be made once a character has been approved! If your character is approved and you have not reserved (or the reservation has ran its course) or claimed your face, your face is still up for grabs and you will lose it if someone else reserves the unclaimed face. Discord. The rules on the board apply to the discord. Please change and keep your name as what it used on the main board so people know who you are. These rules may be edited and the members of the community will be notified.