Patrocles Aktianos:<br/><br/>(http://www.solarnavigator.net/images/troy_achilles_brad_pitt.jpg)<br/><br/><strong>Appearance:</strong><br/><br/>At 5’ 10” Patrocles is not a huge specimen of man.  In fact if not for his finely chiseled muscles one might think him to be somewhat average.  His hair is a deep brown and his skin is olive in complexion, turned a deep bronze by years in the sun, first as a farmer and shepherd and then as a sailor and a soldier.  In the ludus his dress is appropriately nothing but a traditional loin cloth but in public he wears what ever is deemed appropriate by his owner, Domina Livia Sabina Metalla.<br/><br/>In the arena he wears a breastplate of leather and bronze that tails into a leather war skirt, bronze and leather bracers and greaves complete the look.  Combine that in battle with a helmet and shield of bronze that is fashioned after the armor of the traditional Greek Hoplite warriors it is light, and maneuverable.  The shield is large and round with two moon shaped cut outs on either side of it to allow him to use his shield and weapon of choice at the same time to fight defensively if necessary.  The weapon he chooses to utilize is again the weapons of the hoplites… a long but light javelin, tipped with an iron head, and a gladius which he keeps strapped to the inside of his shield in case the javelin is rendered unusable.<br/><br/><strong>Personality: </strong><br/><br/>Quite and unassuming when compared to the other gladiators found in most of the arenas of the area.  He is calm, calculating, and quick to strike when the opportunity arises; which he is adept at creating.  By using the large round shield and javelin to his advantage he is able to push his opponents into making mistakes that allow him to make a killing strike while remaining more than an arms length away.  Outside the arena he is dutiful and complicit to his Domina, knowing his place and knowing that with obedience there is advantages and privilege.  The greatest privilege, beyond the private cell which allows for sanctioned visits from the slave girls, or other, paying noblewomen, is the relationship and trust that has been fostered between him and Domina Matella.  While he knows his place as a slave, he is still allowed some small freedom to speak his mind, to a point, and, as of late, is often summoned to her chambers to support her in what ever way she deems necessary.  It is good to be the champion.<br/><br/><strong>History: </strong><br/><br/>Patrocles was born near the city of Nicopolis on the western shores of Greece.  He was raised in a simple house on a farm where they grew grapes, olives, and raised goats and horses.  He learned at an early age to ride and to watch over the flocks of goats in the hills above Nicopolis.  He grew fast and strong as the third brother of the family and spent his days tending to the herds or the vines, fishing or chasing after the girls in town.  At the age of 16 he was pressed into military service as a part of a local auxiliary to the legions and sent to the lines as a hoplite in the infantry.  The Greeks had adapted their traditional phalanx style of warfare to incorporate the style of roman centurion and they fought well side by side with the Romans.  However, there were still some auxiliary forces that preferred the lighter weapons and armor of the ancient hoplites and they were used on the wings of the formations to harry the enemy flanks and archers.   It was a role he excelled at, often leading the charge against the enemy, and wreaking havoc with his javelin and shield, while many of the round shields could be locked together to form a moveable hill of brass and iron, bristling with the javelin and spears of the soldier behind, waiting for the chance to fly into the attack.  It was during one of these battles that young Patrolces fell, struck down by an errant spear that cracked him on the back of the neck, and knocking him over the edge of a bluff.  Patrocles tumbled down the bluff, and landed heavily in the water, which broke his fall enough not to kill him, but when he crawled to the beach he collapsed, sleeping for days until he recovered his strength enough to make his way back to the army’s lines.  Upon arrival in the camp of the Romans he found out that the battle had been a major loss, and that almost all of the soldiers there had been lost.  The fact that he had survived proved to the Romans that he had fled, and they branded him a deserter and sent him to the arenas as a death sentence.  Fighting his was through the lower ranks in back water towns and small arenas Patrocles finally found favor in the eyes of Mars and was seen by the Dominus Matella.  He was purchased, and brought to the Ludus Matella where he has been for 5 years.