Post by Aetius on May 25, 2011 23:08:12 GMT -5
Name:
Flavius Aetius
Alias:
Aetius
Age:
52
Sex:
Male
Race:
Human
Appearance:
The quintessential old soldier. Aetius stands 5’7, the norm for men of his country. He weighs 214 pounds, the strength and vigor of youth leaving him with each passing day. He wears his jet black hair in the style of the Caesar’s, now graying with age and weariness. His sullen, narrow eyes have seen more death and carnage than any man should in his lifetime. A disfiguring scar is directly below his left eye, a wound from an arrow, received in one of Aetius’ many battles. Keeping in the classical tradition of his people, Aetius wears no facial hair and shaves daily.
Despite not commanding an army in the field for years, Aetius still wears the traditional armor of a Catalaunian Consul. Consisting of a silver breastplate, shoulder pads, and shin guards, Aetius keeps his armor polished and maintained, a lingering memory of better times. He also wears a black tunic, and faded red cape, which creates an air of importance (if also making him stick out in most settings). He wears a horizontally crested helmet in battle, while wielding a gladius, a short stabbing sword. Finally, Aetius carries his oak and iron war shield into combat, the same one he has had since his days as a Centurion.
Personality:
Coming from a well to do, if not noble family, Aetius is well versed in proper conversation and manners after years of attending Catalaunian balls. Like any man of his rank he is also well read in the classics and enjoys literary discussion. His favorite drink is the rich red wine grown in the Catalaunian vineyards. However, this upper crust upbringing has made him quite finicky about food selection and is frequently appalled by what passes for food and drink. He occasionally comes off as snobbish and pretentious, but years on the battlefield have wiped away any delusions he had about “varying the worth of the social classes.”
After decades of serving foolish rulers, Aetius has gained a degree of laconic wit and sarcasm. This occasionally turns into cynicism and bitterness, but most times Aetius is a gentleman. His years of warfare have shown Aetius both the worst and best civilization has to offer, but after so much death and bitter disappointment he is a worn down, if not yet broken, man. Still he has no pretentions that his old stories will serve as warnings to the younger generation, so he prefers to wear the mask wit and joviality in public, rather than tell the world about the horror of war.
Personal History:
The youngest of three children; even as a boy Aetius was aware he would be the soldier of the family. His oldest brother Marcus inherited the family occupation of salt trade, while his sister Portia was married off to a successful physician. At age eighteen, his father’s wealth bought him a commission in the Catalaunian army as a Centurion. After distinguishing himself in a few campaigns, first as a Centurion and later as a Tribune, Aetius quickly rose through the ranks and soon found himself in command of the armies of the empire. He won stunning victories against all of the empire’s enemies, crushing the hill orcs, vanquishing the coastal pirates, and even humiliating the feared wood elves. Yet, great triumphs mean nothing without political acumen, and a series of weak rulers rendered Aetius’ victories meaningless. By age forty, Aetius was not fighting foreign enemies in wars of conquest, but his own countrymen, as political infighting was tearing the Catalaunian Empire into a mosaic of principalities.
Royal families have a tendency of infertility and the Catalaunian dynasty was no exception. When Severus the IX died with no feasible heirs, the nation was literally torn into twelve pieces. Aetius served as Lord Protector for the infant regent, hoping to unite the fractured nation by the time the babe was at age to rule. However, greatness has its limits. At Leuctra, the Battle of Kings, Aetius was defeated by a coalition of his many enemies, his life’s work undone in a day. Though his army was intact, he disbanded it to avoid further blood and death, and choose the life of an exile. Though he considered ritual and honorable suicide, Aetius is resolved to see the world he has only ever read about and to give his life some meaning.
Skills:
Tactical Brilliance: Years on the battlefields of Catalaunia have given Aetius the ability to quickly assess and react to almost situation that arises. He can notice flaws in an opponent’s strategy in most fights, from a barroom brawls to the battles of hundreds of thousands. Though he isn’t as strong, sturdy, or quick as he used to be, Aetius’ mind is as sharp as ever.
Shield of the Centurion: Forged in the famous armories of Catalaunia, Aetius’ shield is constructed of the perfect blend of oak and iron. His short, bulky build is well suited to sword and shield combat and so getting past Aetius’ shield in combat is no small feat.
Armor Plating: Even if an opponent’s weapon, manages to slip past Aetius’ shield he remains difficult to kill due to the high amount of armor he wears on his person. The armor itself is of the highest quality known to the Catalaunian Empire.
Frontline Fighting: Aetius did not spend all of his soldiering years as a Consul. As a Centurion he had plenty of experience plunging his gladius into the guts of his enemies. Though not a duelist in the sense of the rapier, Aetius is an accomplished swordsman in his own right. In his hands the Gladius becomes a weapon his enemies should fear.
Basic Medical Knowledge: Though not particularly knowledgeable in the medical arts, Aetius has seen enough battlefield injuries to know how to bandage and treat many common wounds.
Face Claim:
The name Flavius Aetius comes from fifth century roman leader, best known for defeating Attila the Hun at the battle of Chalons (also known as the Battle of the Catalaunian fields aha). However, the back story of my character is derived from many historical figures from various eras, notably Frederick Barbarossa, Oliver Cromwell, The Duke of Marlborough, and Eumenes of Cardia.
Flavius Aetius
Alias:
Aetius
Age:
52
Sex:
Male
Race:
Human
Appearance:
The quintessential old soldier. Aetius stands 5’7, the norm for men of his country. He weighs 214 pounds, the strength and vigor of youth leaving him with each passing day. He wears his jet black hair in the style of the Caesar’s, now graying with age and weariness. His sullen, narrow eyes have seen more death and carnage than any man should in his lifetime. A disfiguring scar is directly below his left eye, a wound from an arrow, received in one of Aetius’ many battles. Keeping in the classical tradition of his people, Aetius wears no facial hair and shaves daily.
Despite not commanding an army in the field for years, Aetius still wears the traditional armor of a Catalaunian Consul. Consisting of a silver breastplate, shoulder pads, and shin guards, Aetius keeps his armor polished and maintained, a lingering memory of better times. He also wears a black tunic, and faded red cape, which creates an air of importance (if also making him stick out in most settings). He wears a horizontally crested helmet in battle, while wielding a gladius, a short stabbing sword. Finally, Aetius carries his oak and iron war shield into combat, the same one he has had since his days as a Centurion.
Personality:
Coming from a well to do, if not noble family, Aetius is well versed in proper conversation and manners after years of attending Catalaunian balls. Like any man of his rank he is also well read in the classics and enjoys literary discussion. His favorite drink is the rich red wine grown in the Catalaunian vineyards. However, this upper crust upbringing has made him quite finicky about food selection and is frequently appalled by what passes for food and drink. He occasionally comes off as snobbish and pretentious, but years on the battlefield have wiped away any delusions he had about “varying the worth of the social classes.”
After decades of serving foolish rulers, Aetius has gained a degree of laconic wit and sarcasm. This occasionally turns into cynicism and bitterness, but most times Aetius is a gentleman. His years of warfare have shown Aetius both the worst and best civilization has to offer, but after so much death and bitter disappointment he is a worn down, if not yet broken, man. Still he has no pretentions that his old stories will serve as warnings to the younger generation, so he prefers to wear the mask wit and joviality in public, rather than tell the world about the horror of war.
Personal History:
The youngest of three children; even as a boy Aetius was aware he would be the soldier of the family. His oldest brother Marcus inherited the family occupation of salt trade, while his sister Portia was married off to a successful physician. At age eighteen, his father’s wealth bought him a commission in the Catalaunian army as a Centurion. After distinguishing himself in a few campaigns, first as a Centurion and later as a Tribune, Aetius quickly rose through the ranks and soon found himself in command of the armies of the empire. He won stunning victories against all of the empire’s enemies, crushing the hill orcs, vanquishing the coastal pirates, and even humiliating the feared wood elves. Yet, great triumphs mean nothing without political acumen, and a series of weak rulers rendered Aetius’ victories meaningless. By age forty, Aetius was not fighting foreign enemies in wars of conquest, but his own countrymen, as political infighting was tearing the Catalaunian Empire into a mosaic of principalities.
Royal families have a tendency of infertility and the Catalaunian dynasty was no exception. When Severus the IX died with no feasible heirs, the nation was literally torn into twelve pieces. Aetius served as Lord Protector for the infant regent, hoping to unite the fractured nation by the time the babe was at age to rule. However, greatness has its limits. At Leuctra, the Battle of Kings, Aetius was defeated by a coalition of his many enemies, his life’s work undone in a day. Though his army was intact, he disbanded it to avoid further blood and death, and choose the life of an exile. Though he considered ritual and honorable suicide, Aetius is resolved to see the world he has only ever read about and to give his life some meaning.
Skills:
Tactical Brilliance: Years on the battlefields of Catalaunia have given Aetius the ability to quickly assess and react to almost situation that arises. He can notice flaws in an opponent’s strategy in most fights, from a barroom brawls to the battles of hundreds of thousands. Though he isn’t as strong, sturdy, or quick as he used to be, Aetius’ mind is as sharp as ever.
Shield of the Centurion: Forged in the famous armories of Catalaunia, Aetius’ shield is constructed of the perfect blend of oak and iron. His short, bulky build is well suited to sword and shield combat and so getting past Aetius’ shield in combat is no small feat.
Armor Plating: Even if an opponent’s weapon, manages to slip past Aetius’ shield he remains difficult to kill due to the high amount of armor he wears on his person. The armor itself is of the highest quality known to the Catalaunian Empire.
Frontline Fighting: Aetius did not spend all of his soldiering years as a Consul. As a Centurion he had plenty of experience plunging his gladius into the guts of his enemies. Though not a duelist in the sense of the rapier, Aetius is an accomplished swordsman in his own right. In his hands the Gladius becomes a weapon his enemies should fear.
Basic Medical Knowledge: Though not particularly knowledgeable in the medical arts, Aetius has seen enough battlefield injuries to know how to bandage and treat many common wounds.
Face Claim:
The name Flavius Aetius comes from fifth century roman leader, best known for defeating Attila the Hun at the battle of Chalons (also known as the Battle of the Catalaunian fields aha). However, the back story of my character is derived from many historical figures from various eras, notably Frederick Barbarossa, Oliver Cromwell, The Duke of Marlborough, and Eumenes of Cardia.
<--Click here for a profile