Post by Claudius Glaber on Apr 6, 2011 15:27:53 GMT -6
Gaius Claudius Glaber was born to a patrician family in Rome. However, despite his noble blood the family was still low on the rung of power and prestige when it came to those of it's more well endowed peers. The Glaber's hadn't fielded a Senator in more than two generations, the families influence was teetering, and it's massive villa on the Palatine Hill was served by a skeleton crew of aging slaves. Gaius looked to change that when he joined the Roman Army at the age of fourteen. He knew that to take a successful run for the Senate, a military career (and the extensive plunder that came with it) would be an excellent way to propel his family to it's proper place in Roman society.
For fifteen years he fought from one barbarian shithole to another. He commanded troops in Gaul and later in Germania, he sacked villages, towns, cities and committed genocide all for the greater glory of Rome and of course himself. Eventually he was promoted to Legatus and given his own Legion. The war booty and captive slaves that he recovered more than improved his standing back in Rome. It even attracted the attention of the powerful Senator Albinius and his only daughter. In Ilithyia, Cladius found more than a wife he found a partner whom was more than willing to aid in his political aspirations and win the patronage of her father. All that Cladius needed was one decisive victory against Rome's enemies.
The chance came when Glaber was serving in Thrace, again fighting barbarians on the Republic's far flung borders when news came of Mithridates of Pontus was again making war against Rome. Every available Legion was being dispatched to combat him and Glaber was stuck defending the villages of barbarians. The situation could not be tolerated, Glaber had to act..and as his wife continued to remind him a victory against Pontus would be all that Glaber needed to seize the political power that he had wanted for all his life.
Spartacus changed that. Back then he was no Bringer of Rain or titan of the Arena. He was an auxiliary soldier in the Roman Army, fighting for Glaber. Yet Spartacus was too blind to see the more pressing concern's of Rome. He refused to accept that in the grand scale of thing's, his village made of dung was of no importance to Rome or in particular Glaber himself. He refused to move with the Army, instead he attacked Claudius and his officers...nearly killing Glaber in the process. The auxiliaries deserted, Glaber didn't have the troops to bring against Mithridates....his chance for glory was lost.
But not his chance for vengeance against the man whom had cost him everything. Gaius captured Spartacus, he sold his wife into slavery and brought the Thracian back to the arena to be executed. Fate intervened however. Spartacus not only survived he thrived. Glaber was forced to retire back to the frontier with his Legion while the legend of Spartacus was born. Little did Glaber know that his dear wife had murdered Capua's leading lady Lykinia in a fit of rage in her husband's absence. When he returned to Capua to at last collect his wife and depart for his proper place in Rome, the Lannister Batiatus blackmailed the Legatus into supporting his bid for political office..
Fate would intervene again to save Claudius from being under the thumb of that worm. Spartacus rebelled, he slaughtered the entire household and Capua's leading citizens (little did he know Ilithyia saw to that by ensuring the exits in the Villa were blocked). Batiatus was dead, any influence he had over him was gone. Better yet, Cladius had been given one more chance to do what he should have done a long time ago. Kill Spartacus. By killing the legend of the Arena, Claudius would breathe new life into his political career...Spartacus in his own way had actually done the Legates work for him. Except Spartacus wouldn't be rewarded for it. Claudius was going to fulfill his promise. Spartacus would die in the shadow of Rome.
For fifteen years he fought from one barbarian shithole to another. He commanded troops in Gaul and later in Germania, he sacked villages, towns, cities and committed genocide all for the greater glory of Rome and of course himself. Eventually he was promoted to Legatus and given his own Legion. The war booty and captive slaves that he recovered more than improved his standing back in Rome. It even attracted the attention of the powerful Senator Albinius and his only daughter. In Ilithyia, Cladius found more than a wife he found a partner whom was more than willing to aid in his political aspirations and win the patronage of her father. All that Cladius needed was one decisive victory against Rome's enemies.
The chance came when Glaber was serving in Thrace, again fighting barbarians on the Republic's far flung borders when news came of Mithridates of Pontus was again making war against Rome. Every available Legion was being dispatched to combat him and Glaber was stuck defending the villages of barbarians. The situation could not be tolerated, Glaber had to act..and as his wife continued to remind him a victory against Pontus would be all that Glaber needed to seize the political power that he had wanted for all his life.
Spartacus changed that. Back then he was no Bringer of Rain or titan of the Arena. He was an auxiliary soldier in the Roman Army, fighting for Glaber. Yet Spartacus was too blind to see the more pressing concern's of Rome. He refused to accept that in the grand scale of thing's, his village made of dung was of no importance to Rome or in particular Glaber himself. He refused to move with the Army, instead he attacked Claudius and his officers...nearly killing Glaber in the process. The auxiliaries deserted, Glaber didn't have the troops to bring against Mithridates....his chance for glory was lost.
But not his chance for vengeance against the man whom had cost him everything. Gaius captured Spartacus, he sold his wife into slavery and brought the Thracian back to the arena to be executed. Fate intervened however. Spartacus not only survived he thrived. Glaber was forced to retire back to the frontier with his Legion while the legend of Spartacus was born. Little did Glaber know that his dear wife had murdered Capua's leading lady Lykinia in a fit of rage in her husband's absence. When he returned to Capua to at last collect his wife and depart for his proper place in Rome, the Lannister Batiatus blackmailed the Legatus into supporting his bid for political office..
Fate would intervene again to save Claudius from being under the thumb of that worm. Spartacus rebelled, he slaughtered the entire household and Capua's leading citizens (little did he know Ilithyia saw to that by ensuring the exits in the Villa were blocked). Batiatus was dead, any influence he had over him was gone. Better yet, Cladius had been given one more chance to do what he should have done a long time ago. Kill Spartacus. By killing the legend of the Arena, Claudius would breathe new life into his political career...Spartacus in his own way had actually done the Legates work for him. Except Spartacus wouldn't be rewarded for it. Claudius was going to fulfill his promise. Spartacus would die in the shadow of Rome.