Countdown to the End

[Fareoem]

The year is 404 C.E. in Western Roman Empire barbarians are running wild, plagues and famine are rampant, and uncertainty is in the air. Tucked away in the city of Rome, the plebs are furious with the incompetence of the Emperor. Rome has not had a foreign invader for over 500 years and now Goths, Lombards, Huns, and Vandals are pillaging all the far corners of the Empire. You take the role of a certain individual in the Eternal City which has his/her own set of underlying goals. Character profiles should be in the following format:

Name: Fareoem
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Species: Dragon

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Fog blanketed the fields, these were called the fields of Mars. Mars was the god of war during a time when pagans held absolute power over roman ways. Still the fields were used to drill new legions, although this morning there was a lack of volunteers to fill the much depleted ranks. Fareoem took in a deep breath of the morning air, the sun rose over a still roman town. Everyone seemed to live as if it were their last in the Eternal City. He could still remember a time when even the citizens in Gaul need not fear the Germanic tribes that seemed to recently over run all the defenses along the Rhine. Tales still came out of Britannia about hordes of Saxons and Celts breaching and taking Hadrian's Wall. Now these were dark times, the silver-scaled dragon started to buckle into his armor before he checked the night guard and send out the next watch. After his battle worn armor was on Fareoem walked out toward the city central square.

[circe]

Name: Circe
Gender: Female
Age: 24
Species: Jaguar

~

The streets were busy today, filled with beggars and consuls, traders and soldiers, all fighting their way through the tiny space to get where they were going. Circe grimaced, shifting the basket of dates so that it rested on her shoulder. If she tried to enter the throng right now, she'd get crushed, or even worse: groped! She shuddered, backing up against the warm stone wall to stay out of the way. The dark cat grew more annoyed, making motions as if to shove her way through, but was repelled once more.
"Will you bunch move?!" She yelled, fighting to be heard over the raucous din. The vendor she had bought the food from smirked lecherously, eyes trawling over the hem of her tunic and down her long legs. With a huff of indignation, Circe steeled herself. And, clutching her purchase close to her chest, she dove into the thoroughfare, elbowing and kneeing her way to the center square. If there was any place where she could actually rest without getting pushed over or robbed, it would be the center of the town.

[Passive_Coon]

Name: Kiru
Gender: Male
Age: 16
Species: Racoon

Kiru found himself lifting the sheild of the helmet once again as is clanged down on his face, his paw was now holding it up as he walked roughly through the crowded streets. He was being shoved left and right among the crowd until he was shoved out into the central part of the town falling flat on his back, his armor clanged among the floor whilst his helmet went sliding back into the crowd. "wait..stop....that's my dads!!." Kiru gathered himself on all fours and reached amongst the crowd for his helmet just to have his paw trampled upon and the helmet fade from his sight. His face was in shock as he pushed himself back from the crowd, his left paw caressing his hurt right paw, he could feel his eyes begin to tear but he held them back, he knew he had to be strong if he wanted to be a top warrior.

[Fareoem]

As the dragon pushed his way through the crowd he kicked something metallic, at first he thought it was just a bucket but then noticed it to be a helmet. Picking it up he could see a name etched along the inside and mumbled, "So, the citizenry doubt the guard's ability to protect them. Well, I suppose I'll need to return it at the end of my rounds." He held onto it with a tight grip and continued to push towards the large fountain in the center square.

[Passive_Coon]

After finally recovering himself his eyes peered back in the direction of the helmet just knowing he had to get it back. "The gaurds..they'd help me.." The racoon rushed over to the closest guard he could find, his eyes moved upward to look upon a very muscular tiger. "Excuse me, sir.. I..I've happened to lost my helmet, could you help me find it?" The tiger glimpsed down and began to laugh at the hopeless idea. "Kid I've got better things to do then search for your stupid little helmet..now get out of here! Kiru was surprised at the guards behavior, the racoon was still to young and ignorant, thinking all military had the most wholesome of hearts. "But..sir pplesse it's my dads, he was a guard also.." He latched upon the tiger now being desperate, the tiger was ready on the defensive and quickly got the coon in a chokehold, then sent him to the floor. "See kid no one cares about you or your stupid helmet." Kiru's hopes and dreams were going right out the window on being a guard himself one day.

[Fareoem]

Finally after an hours worth of pushing and shoving, Fareoem made it to the fountain. This fountain once spewed clean, clear water with rose petals and lilies floating across the surface but now all one could see was a muddy pond filled with dirty linens. The building closest to the fountain contained the first checkpoint where the guards would sleep and spend much of their time off. It was also in this building where a simple lost and found received more than its share of traffic. "Hail Caesar," he greeted the man behind the counter, "put this in my trunk and if anyone comes asking for it, send word and keep them here til I return." Fareoem wanted to see just who the owner was and perhaps he could be a recruit for the army or just the town guard. In this city just running the town guard took the skill of a field marshal.

[Passive_Coon]

The racoon gathered himself back on both feet dusting himself off, his eyes gave the guard an angry look before turning away from him. "Not all guards can be the same, they can't be like him.." He soon started to walk away his head held low still a little dissapointed, his head turned back slowly as a paw had grasped at his shoulder. It was another guard, a racoon guard at that, Kiru's eyes sparkled with joy. "Hey don't let that guy get you down, he just got promoted and he let it go to his head, try working with him.." The racoon guard joked and ruffled Kiru's head. "You should go check our lost and found, I bet it's there.. He pointed the racoon in the direction. "Thank you so much sir!" Kiru tried hiding his tears of happiness but he couldn't, he went and continued on in the direction, his hopes and dreams were back, head held high. He finally made his way inside with a huge grin asking about the helmet, he had to wait though but he wasn't leaving without it.

[Fareoem]

He had just made it to the west gate when he received word that someone had come to claim the helmet that he'd found earlier. Sending the messenger away, he made the push back toward the fountain. The sun was already at its apex when he finally strode into the lobby, "Where is the one who claimed the helmet" he asked the man behind the counter. "It's that young one over there," Fareoem followed the gesture to the young raccoon and took the helmet out of his trunk. "So you're the man who this belongs to? You seem a little young for one who'd wear this in any serious manner." He had serious doubt that the helmet did belong to the young raccoon, but it was only because of a concern as to what the motives of this young one could be.

[Passive_Coon]

The racoon spun around to look at the dragon mid way, his eyes slowly moved upward to look his savior in the eyes, his own eyes were sparkling in happiness, his arms opened up and hugged the dragon guard as much as he could. "Thank you so much sir!!" The racoon backed up some, his eyes could be seen all teary but not crying. "The helmet belongs to my dad sir.. I've come a long way to train on being a guard sir.. we need the money and I don't mind following in my dads footsteps, does it looks like I got what it takes sir..?" the racoon backed up a little more so the dragon could get a good look at him, Kiru was short standing at an exact 5'2", he was slim, had a dirty brown colored fur from the travel, he wore his dads armor as well, it was customized for Kiru but really old fashioned and there were no boots his size so he was barefoot. He gave a gleaming smile maybe the only thing that stood out along with his hopes and dreams.

[Fareoem]

Fareoem was stumbled a bit when he was tackled with hugs by the raccoon, but when he heard that the raccoon wanted to be a guard he really looked surprised. "Well, you're a little short, and most likely quite young, but we're in bad need of recruits and there wouldn't be a problem finding a place for you. I will need to put you through a battery of tests, not all of them physical; not just anyone can be a guard on my shift," he seemed to brighten with pride. "First things first, I'll need information on you. Can't be a guard if you're not a citizen, the army maybe but not here. Then after that, I will need to see you're skills and abilities." It was true, there were more and more barbarians joining the ranks of the imperial army under roman commanders, but guardsmen and elite troops were pure roman bred and raised.

[Passive_Coon]

At first the racoon was a little dissapointed about hearing he was to young and short but his ears perked up hearing that he could have a chance. " Really, do you mean it!! I will work the hardest I've ever worked before." The racoon had an aura of happiness with a huge grin on his muzzle, his palms rubbed into his eyes to keep the tears back, he sniffled a few times. "Ill be happy to help you with any information you'll need and show you what my dad has taught me so far. " Determination could be seen on Kiru's face but deep down he was really nervous.

[Fareoem]

The dragon was very curious as to why this young raccoon wanted to join so badly and sighed, "Well, lets start with you're name, I'll need you're christian name and surname. It won't help us find you in the census without both. Second, where are you from specifically, Italia, Gaul, Britannia? After that we can move on to the physical exam." The physical exam was designed to place the recruits into the proper divisions so that their strengths could be exploited and weaknesses suppressed. Fareoem took in a breath and called for the scribe and the messenger so the necessary information could be gathered.

[Fareoem]

-Bump- (Anyone else feel free to join)