Umbra Roma
The year is 117 AD. As the sky shatters over the eternal city, unleashing primordial horrors, the Roman Empire begins to crumble from within. A junior senator, granted a dangerous, chaotic power in the cataclysm, must navigate the treacherous currents of a paranoid Senate, forge alliances with desperate soldiers, and confront beings of nightmare to survive and decide the fate of a world plunged into shadow.
0
Plays
4
Characters
7
Events
📖 Story Backstory
The introduction and setting of the world, including its history.
The story begins in 117 AD, during the prosperous reign of Emperor Trajan. Without warning, an event known as 'The Rupture' occurs—a metaphysical tear in the fabric of reality above Rome. This allows monstrous entities from a realm of chaos, the 'Umbrae,' to pour into the mortal world. These creatures are not of myth or legend; they are alien, often formless, and driven by an instinct to consume and unmake. Simultaneously, a fraction of the human population, including the protagonist, develops strange and volatile powers known as 'Sparks.' These are not divine gifts but raw, chaotic energies that are difficult to control. The Roman state is thrown into disarray. The Senate is paralyzed by fear and infighting, the Praetorian Guard struggles to contain the chaos, and the populace is caught between the monsters and the crumbling authorities. The story is a survival game on both a personal and political level, set within the dying heart of the world's greatest empire.
👥 Characters (4)
Characters in this story. You will choose who to play as when you start.
Gaius Valerius Corvus
Protagonist
A junior senator from a respectable but not top-tier equestrian family, Gaius earned his place through intellect and careful political maneuvering. He is pragmatic and ambitious, with a genuine belief in the Roman ideal, though he is cynical about the men who lead it. The Rupture grants him a subtle but unnerving 'Spark,' forcing him to adapt his political skills to a world of visceral survival.
Lucius Cassian Longinus
Neutral
A grizzled Centurion of the Praetorian Guard, Lucius is a man of simple, brutal loyalties. He despises the Senate's corruption and sees their weakness as the cause of Rome's current predicament. His only faith is in discipline, the strength of the Legion, and the abstract ideal of Rome itself. He has no powers, only his steel and a lifetime of experience in killing.
Flavia Aelia
Neutral
As one of the six Vestal Virgins, Flavia was one of the most sacred figures in Rome, sworn to chastity and the protection of Vesta's sacred flame. The Rupture desecrated her world, extinguishing the flame and imbuing her with a terrifying pyromantic 'Spark.' Her faith is shattered, and she is now a pariah—a holy woman wielding profane power. She is hunted by both monsters and superstitious Romans.
Titus Flavius Sextus
Neutral
A wealthy merchant and slumlord who owns several insulae in the Subura district. Titus sees the apocalypse not as an end, but as a business opportunity. He hoards resources, employs thugs to protect his assets, and sees the breakdown of law as a chance to consolidate power. He is utterly amoral and driven by greed.
⚡ Key Events (7)
The Rupture
The story begins in the Senate House as a mundane debate is interrupted by a cataclysmic event. A black fissure tears open the sky, and monstrous Umbrae descend upon the Roman Forum. The protagonist manifests a nascent 'Spark' amidst the chaos. The scene establishes the core threat, the existence of powers, and the immediate collapse of order, ending with a critical survival choice.
Shelter and Accusation
Depending on their choice, the protagonist finds temporary shelter with a group of survivors (e.g., in the Tabularium on the Capitoline Hill). The group is a mix of panicked senators, priests, and commoners. Fear turns to paranoia, and accusations fly: this is divine punishment, a curse brought by foreign cults, or the work of traitors. An Umbra begins to assault the shelter, testing the fragile defenses and forcing the survivors to work together.
The Centurion's Bargain
The protagonist encounters Centurion Lucius Cassian Longinus and his cohort attempting to secure a critical resource, such as the Horrea Galbae (a massive grain warehouse). Lucius is pragmatic but distrustful. He needs help to clear the area of Umbrae and secure it for the military, but he won't simply give away resources to a politician. He offers a bargain: help him, and a share of the spoils will be provided. Refuse, and he will see the protagonist as another obstacle.
The Subura Inferno
If the protagonist chose to search for their family, they find the Subura district in flames. The crowded, wooden insulae are a deathtrap. Flavia Aelia is cornered nearby, her panicked pyromancy having accidentally started the blaze. The protagonist must navigate the fire, evade ravenous Umbrae drawn to the destruction, and decide Flavia's fate.
Whispers in the Curia
The surviving senators convene in a fortified location. The meeting is a viper's nest of fear and ambition. A rival senator accuses the protagonist of being 'tainted' or causing the disaster. The protagonist must use their Auctoritas, alliances, and perhaps their subtle Spark (Whispers of Influence) to survive the political battle.
The Merchant of Ruin
Word spreads of a merchant, Titus Flavius Sextus, who has a vast stock of grain. He is selling it at extortionate prices. The protagonist can approach him to negotiate for supplies, a vital task for their growing group of survivors. Titus will be a difficult, greedy negotiator, offering a terrible deal.
The Stalker in the Shadows
As the protagonist's Umbral Taint grows, they begin to feel as if they are being watched. A specific, intelligent Umbra, a 'Stalker,' has imprinted on them. It begins to manifest at the edges of perception—a fleeting shape in a dark alley, a whisper on the wind. This culminates in an ambush where the protagonist must face this personal nemesis alone.