SPQR - Discussion thread:

Looking up at the Roman side, "former dictator" isn't a common title these days. Especially in one's country of origin.

Just seems like an awkward thing to put on your resume, the way things have worked out.

[I am well aware of differences but I just like the title]

Well, it's more what Octavia would know him as, rather than his actual title. He would probably just refer to himself as "magistrate Quintus Fabius Maximus," since that was his title as of 218.

Sadly, we do not know why Fabius was appointed dictator in 221 BC, since Livy's accounts from that time are lost. We only know the truth of his appointment.

edited 30th Apr '14 10:03:56 AM by math792d

Shhh. Let me enjoy the little things.

Titus Tratius, by the way, is named after a legendary Roman king. Mostly because I really, really like the name.

Hey guys I just got approved by math to join! I've played with some of you before, but most of you are new to me, since I've been on a year and a half hiatus from Tv Tropes. This will actually be my first RP in quite a while, so I'm really glad to be here.

Yo! Hope we'll have fun!

Hallo!

And my axe.

If you're wondering why I didn't update Team Carthage just now, it's because I'm waiting for everyone to have a chance to post before they up and leave.

I apologize for taking so long to get into this... I didn't expect it to start when it did, and when I finally got my act together, there was a decent amount to catch up on. I'll start posting today.

Hooray!

For the record, when everyone's little plotline here is sorted out, there will be a slight time skip - that's why they're all ending in kind of cliffhanger-y ways. So once all the little plotlines are wrapped up there'll be a few days' shift in time. If there's anything in particular you'd like for your character to have done with that time (once you know a bit more about where everyone is headed,) feel free to let me know in a PM.

edited 2nd May '14 11:05:33 AM by math792d

I'd just like to ask, since Dynamene and Hycaenus can both have command over sea creatures, who would have the most control if they were to fight at sea? I kinda want to sort this out before we're in the middle of a fight and it gets problematic and heated.

edited 3rd May '14 5:15:56 AM by Tricksen

I think as soon as one demigod has "convinced" a sea creature they'll probably be under his/her control for the duration of the "scene."

Mostly because that way we can have underwater sea creature fights and that would be amazing.

....Pokemon Demigod Edition :P

Plot threads closed off for now until the rest of the prologue segments conclude:

• Antonius and Aetius, SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS.
• Octavia, Family and Glory.
• Dynamene, Fulminata.
• Team Carthage, The Oaths That Bind Us.

Bonus points to anyone who guesses the name of the praetor's parent deity.

edited 3rd May '14 6:50:41 AM by math792d

Well Dynamene has hydrokinesis which Hycaeus doesn't have, but hitting your opponent with water when they're also a son of a sea god seems... less than effective. If both of them are in the water Dynamene seems like he'd have the advantage while on a ship Hycaeus probably would.

But to be honest I would more expect it to come out to a draw. It seems like a bit of a wet noodle fight.

>Dynamene hits Hycaeus with a strong jet of water!

>Hycaeus can't be hurt by water! He's the son of a sea god!

>Hycaeus slashes at Dynamene!

>Dynamene dodges easily, her speed increased by her proximity to the sea!

and so on so forth

edited 3rd May '14 3:09:44 PM by rabbitRider

The irony of that if Hycaneus could be hurt by the water would be hilarious though. But I agree, it'd probably be a draw.

And the question of the outcome of Dynamene and Hycaneus fighting made me wonder, who would win, Yam or Neptune? Or would it be sorta like, in Roman territory, Neptune's boss, in Carthaginian territory, Yam's the king?

edited 3rd May '14 1:55:33 PM by Tricksen

Assuming they actually just kinda went to slug it out (which they probably wouldn't,) it would depend on territory, yeah.

It also depends a lot on the deity's legend and connection with the culture that spawned it. So Neptune is sort of a "lesser" god in the eyes of the Romans because they weren't big on seafaring, so assuming they met on "neutral" ground, Yam might have an upper hand.

I think I might have been a little unclear - there's going to be a bit of a jump in time between the prologue and the start of the first "act," so to speak. So anyone on the list, I won't update their storyline until everyone's has been updated and we have a few days' worth of time skip. Just in case I was a little unclear ^^

Not that that shoudl stop your characters from talking a little internally, I just wanted to clarify.

I assumed that we were passing through the Iberian side of the Pyranees where Hannibal is recorded as subjugating the Illergetae, the Bargusii, the Ausetani, and some of Lacetani.

Also, alluding to the Transalpine Gauls of the Po Valley who would come to form a significant portion of Hannibal's army. Mediolanum is Gaulish [or maybe Roman] for Milan, which the Celtic settlement would eventually be named.

Best guess for praetor is Pluto although the Minerva statue has me questioning that.

This presents Gaul's view on women in a relatively positive light while in truth, the matter is rather obscure.

I am basing the matter firstly off the rise of Bouddica, who rose to power under Briton law which was highly favourable to female inheretance and managed to lead a large fighting force. Similarly, I draw influence from Irish legend which cites several female warriors, most famously Scáthach underwhom Cú Chulainn was trained. There are also accounts of all female warbands [Recounted as fighting King Goll in the Colloquy of the Elders] and female led warbands [The Mother of Conchobar persued the Druid Cathbad]. This is still a little shakey and may draw from me cherry picking my myths, but it is a complex relationship which the Myths have with warrior women and I'm hoping to capture it in full, though likely with a slightly modernist progressive take while recognizing the draw backs.

As to the account of slavery being favourable to the Gauls is similarly based off my understanding of accounts of Irish and Briton slavery/servitude where it was present but not to such a degree that anyone who could feed themselves would be getting handfed. I also draw on various accounts of the Gauls by the Romans who list them as unwieldy and defiant, if not outright belligerant as a people. Obviously, Gaul would eventually surrender and many of their people would be reduced to slavery but at the time [and even during the rebellion] they were seen as a very indepedenant culture, more prone to war than unity that even in Vercingetorix's last ditch rebellion, a great deal of dispute and distrust helped seal their demise.

edited 4th May '14 2:54:42 AM by Fauxlosophe

Interesting read, and, in all honesty, I was planning on having a few women with the Gauls just for the sake of variety, which is also a reason why you might see a slight imbalance towards female demigods. As much fun as it is having a historical setting, I'm very much trying to avoid leaning too much on "man's history," so to speak.

Also, off-topic, my only regret about setting this during the Punic Wars is that the Romans weren't much aware of the Germanic tribes at the time, meaning there's no chance for a drunken redhead fratboy with a hammer.

Poor ignored Donar.

With apologies to deathy and Imperial for cutting their prologues a bit short. Won't happen again.