Stevius "Caesar" Blockius

Stevius "Caesar" Blockius, more commonly referred to as just "Stevius" was an Averonian colonist, Arithian politician, and Roman dictator, most memorable in his founding of the Roman Civilization and creation of a western Averonian culture. Stevius was noted for his neutrality, ambition, and skillfull negotiative tactics, and with a legacy of virtue and value he is continuously celebrated by the nations of Arith and the descendants of Rome. His successor, Stevius Blockius II (Draconius) rules over the "Imperatoria Invicta Provincia" (Imperial Province of Invicta), and the older territories of Rome under the stewardship of the Holy Solarian Empire, and emperor Melevor II.

Birth and Early Life
Stevius Blockius I was born some time in the early First Age, a nomad of Eastern Arith in the territories of Averon and Mausia, where his plebeian father, Romulus, married the daughter of a nobleman (either Averon or Mausia; disputed). It is said that they married in secret, bearing a mixed-blood child: Stevius. Upon being discovered, Romulus was put to death. According to legend, the nobleman proclaimed "this filthy blood will not be mixed with mine" before unsheathing his sword and executing Romulus. In the hopes of saving her son, the mother left her child in the hands of a local blacksmith before casting herself into the sea. With no other family, the child was raised under the blacksmith, who taught Stevius well in the art of the blade. By the age of 18, Stevius had grown tall and strong, a young man well versed as a warrior in mind and body.

The Legend of Stevius Blockius and the Averonian Blade
It was on the eve of a "diplomatic summit" that the nobleman, Stevius's grandfather, came for the blacksmith leaving a sword to be sharpened. Unbeknownst to the nobleman, his grandson was under his very nose. The blacksmith held the sword up to Stevius, telling him, "this sword, it killed you're father, and that man, he made it so." Stevius swore vengeance that day.

Stevius was awake and the world fast asleep, and while all else rested he took the sword to the stone, and on it he made a blade so sharp it cut the moonlight through the window. Into the sword he poured his anger, quenched it in his sorrow, and on it scribed a moniker: The Averonian Blade.

The nobleman came for the blade in the morning, and he looked upon Stevius strangely. "Whats you're name" he said. Stevius replied; "I am Stevius Blockius, son of Romulus. You killed my father, widowed my mother, and I will have my vengeance." Stevius took the blade and killed him there.

Stevius and the blacksmith parted ways before the body could be discovered, but the blacksmith found no persecution after Stevius made it known he was the outlaw. The blacksmith gave him a pocket of gold before Stevius then fled the east for the west, bartering passage to a new world.

(note* The Averonian Blade is an artifact spanning multiple cultural mythos, and one narrative will have little semblance with another. "The Legend of Stevius Blockius and the Averonian Blade" is most likely an embellishment, or some other misinterpretation of two otherwise unrelated histories.)

Rome
Stevius Blockius I first appeared in the Alathran history books some time in the First Age. He was an Averonian colonist who, on June 10th, 2021, founded the then frontier town of Rome in southern Arith. It was named after his father, Romulus. Rome's community grew, its territory expanding likewise, and with time and political disposition Stevius gained the title of "Caesar."

In what is considered his first true conflict as Caesar, Stevius fought with Hargreevs of Ashina considering the questionable actions of Roman citizen Scratus. Stevius successfully negotiated the situation following the incident.

Early on in Rome's founding, Stevius befriended a fellow opportunistic colonist: Fred Book. He and a fellow opportunist by the name of CoolGummyBear would found the nearby town of Redwood, and after raising a militia demanded that Stevius dissolve the Empire and surrender Rome. Stevius refused, and soon after met with the chancellor of the F.C.A. with undisclosed results. Rome and Redwood settled on diplomatic terms.

Stevius led a succesful campaign against the northern fortress of Amkensfort, annexing the territory. Unbeknownst to Stevius, Redwood citizen Tamagoth set fire to much of Rome's historic district, starting the Great Fire of Rome.

The Fall of Rome
The Roman Civilization fell to economic depression in the mid to late First Age. Rome was sacked and burned by various assailants, and Stevius Blockius fled the continent of Arith fearing political persecution. Stevius was granted asylum in Kais Kogong where he married the daughter of a fisherman. She granted him three sons of the same name; Stevius Blockius II, but gave them each names of their own: Thelonius, Acadius, and Draconius. Thelonius became a banker, Acadius a mercenary, and Draconius went on to found the New Republic of Rome and the city state of Invictus. Draconius continues to rule over the territories of his father.

Legacy
Caesar Stevius Blockius not only founded the Roman Civilization, but in doing so colonized an otherwise uninhabited region of southern Arith, resulting in the creation of various other civilizations such as Redwood and the Encavia Empire. The settlement of Rome resulted in the creation of a western Averonian culture and, in turn, the Romano-Invictan culture still present in the region.

Stevius Blockius authored the "Trifecta of Roman Literature"; the Roman Collection, of which has since become focal considering the laws, rituals, and historical documents left down to the people of southern Arith by Stevius himself. The Romano-Invictan culture of Stevius Blockius continues to thrive in the many civilizations of southern Arith, where his memory is held in high regard.