- Who Am I? -
Yes, it's time for a X-mas competition! The rules are simple: guess who I am, or rather what historical character hides in the text below. The portrait may be a clue, but don't read too much into it!
The first one who correctly guess who I am wins the round. But remember: do not edit your post. All edited posts will be disqualified from that round.
You're only allowed to guess one time per round. However, if I've declared your guess to be incorrect, you're free to give it another shot.
Everyone is welcome to participate.
Let the guessing begin!
- Round 1 - Gildo
I am a Roman, although I am well aware that many look down on me and my people. They call us untrustworthy bandits and worse. They just don't understand our ways, I guess. But in all fairness, they're not entirely wrong. Just look at my own brother! A traitor and usurper to our Emperor! That's why I had to destroy him. Family is never easy. I've learned this the hard way. Blood may be thicker than water, but it's still only blood. And blood is cheap, a lot cheaper than grain, at least! Rome needs both, and I am the man to supply it.
I was a loyal subject of the Emperor, but when he died? Leaving the Empire in the hands of two boys? Well, let's just say I didn't serve one of the brothers as well as I wanted to serve the other. But then again, before his own demise, Honorius received his fair share of shame... But I hold the boy no grudge! After all, it was his wretched general, that Vandal half blood, I never could stand...
In the end I lost it all, even my life. One can say I was seduced by my own ambitions. The power and the glory. And, of course, the gold.
Ah, the irony. Defeated by my own brother! Yes, that's right! Another brother! The Gods must have been laughing. Speaking of the Gods, I was then finally betrayed by Poseidon himself... But my blood was not theirs to spill. I took care of that myself. Maybe not with a sword, but who cares? I died as a man. I died Roman.
- Round 2 - Orestes
Well, well, well. Where to begin? My career is quite extraordinary, to say the least. First of all, I am a Roman, no matter what anyone else say. My father may have been a pagan, but I am surely not. I guess many a Roman would consider me a traitor of sorts, but I only did what was necessary. And just let me point out that it was the Emperor who ceded my land, not me!
I am well travelled, you might say. Bumpy roads, terrible food and dirty inns, yes, I've seen them all. It's hard to drink putrid wine and eat stale bread when you've grown accustomed to the finer things in life. I've been to Constantinople twice, you know. My Master sent me there to see the Emperor himself. Not the Eastern one, the other one, yes. A remarkable city nevertheless.
Well, when my Master died, I was quite relieved, to be honest. Don't get me wrong, he made me very rich, and through his service, I made many useful friends. But he was a barbarian in the true sense of the word. Most unfitting his death was, oh, yes. But who am I to speak of such matters? Lost my head in the north of Italy, so I did. Most unfitting.
- Round 3 - Phocas
I have no regrets. I did what I had to do. What honour and duty demanded of me. It is simple. I was a soldier. I was raised a soldier. Take orders, give orders, that is what we do. We don't betray our brothers. We strike hard at those who stand in our way. Our way. The soldier's way.
I was not born in a palace, or the halls of some fancy nobleman. I was not born for the purple, but it was placed on my shoulders all the same. At best, the aristocracy tolerated me. But I knew they hated me, maybe even more than they feared me? Who knows. I will never forget that day in Constantinople. The laughter of the senators and courtiers. I could stand the taunting, even when they slapped me in the face, I did not flinch. A good soldier can take a beating, and the soft womanly hands of a few senators didn't bother me. But the laughter? I could never forget that sound. How it bounced back and forth off the cold marble walls. It haunted me. My brothers were dying, and these dogs, these noble dogs, were laughing.
Well, the next time I went to Constantinople, nobody was laughing. But then again I took my brothers with me, and I assure you, they are no laughing matter.
- Round 4 - Ricimer
I'm son of a king and my mother was a princess. I shed my blood for the empire and then with my courage i raise armies and fleets and did my best to save the empire. However since only fools were around i decided to go a step further. If the rulers were incapable i simply needed to create new ones, more than a time i did it by then i was far more greater than any ranking noble of the empire that ever existed. The only thing i was unable to predict is that a hemorrhage will take me of guard in the end and right about when my power was more great than ever.
Reply With Quote
I like the games! Thanks Joar! 
)
Originally Posted by Magister Militum Flavius Aetius
