Personal History
The Family of Atrius is, in the grand scheme of things, still a new power in Roma, but one that is forever growing in power and wealth. The current members of the Atrius line owe almost their entire stature in society to the long dead family patriarch Marcus Atrius Merula, who brought the name of Atrius up out of the docks of the Aventine and into the Senate. Many years have passed since his death at the hands of the Poenii scum, but through his efforts and that of his son Gaius, the family is now one of the most prominent and wealthy Plebeian families in Roma.
Secundus Atrius Merula is the great-grandson of Marcus, and has continued the family's emphasis on the military, honour and duty. At six and thirty years of age he has served his time in the legions and has, unlike his father and elder brother, managed to survive the terrible 2nd Punic War. His father Lucius and brother Titus were both killed at the outbreak of the war, caught up in the onslaught of Hannibal's march through Italia in the battle of Trebia. Secundus was not old enough to be at Trebia with his kin, but survived only to witness Roma's darkest hour at Cannae, where he suffered a terrible leg wound that has left him pained and limping ever since. After more years of fighting his leg became too unreliable and he was honourably discharged from service; from which he entered into the Senate.
Secundus' family consists of his wife Livia and his twin children Fausus and Fausta.
His peculiar cognomen "Merula", meaning blackbird, is a hereditary name first given to his great-grandfather by the soldiers under his command whilst he was a centurion.
The bust of the family patriarch Marcus Atrius Merula
Politics
Through the years the family of Atrius has become more and more anti-Poenii, a recent catalyst being the death of Secundus' father and elder brother, leading him to harbour a great hatred for all and any things Carthaginian. Secundus wishes to see Carthage burnt to the ground and salt scattered over the corpse of the city. He doesn't very much like the Macedonians either, but they can wait. Keeping with family tradition and ideals Secundus is also very pro-military and wishes to see even more professionalism brought into the legions.
Temperament and Ideals
Even though Secundus has basically the same political persuasions as his ancestors, he is not in any way like the great Consul M. Atrius, save in a few small areas. Having grown up in abundant wealth compared to his predecessors Secundus is more friendly towards the patricians, and the patricians (discounting the fanatic anti-plebs), are more inclined to respect him also.
Marcus is cocky, almost overly so, not arrogant, but so believing in his abilities that he does not even stop to consider what others may think. He is also rash in a way that all of his family were not, and will tend to rush into things a bit. These two traits are possibly a result of the 'last man standing' mentality where most of his family died and he finds himself favoured by the gods for having been spared death also.
Despite being more friendly towards Patricians he still has a soft heart for his fellow plebs on the Aventine, though he does not show it in front of who he believes to be his betters.
Last edited by Merula; January 16, 2012 at 05:35 PM.
There is a polite knocking at the door. When you open it, you notice a slave of apparently Spanish descent, with a placard around his neck reading "Sinon, property of Tiberius Aurelius Cotta. The slave says:"Excellent Senator, my master has returned from the war and, as a fellow Senator, invites you for wine at his villa on the Palatine. I will return to him with your answer presently, once it has been given." He bows.
Faustus answers the door, Tell your master that my father will call on him soon, he has some things to do today in preparation for the Triumph....He shuts the door and makes a face., Iberians, almost as bad as the Poenii, could never trust a slave like that... he thinks...
Last edited by Merula; January 16, 2012 at 05:17 PM.
Domus Atrius, on the Aventine
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