Character Profile: Marcus Flavius Cursor

Basic Information

Physical Description

Build: Tall and lean (as suggested by potential cognomen “Macro” — built for scrambling through mine shafts and construction sites)
Appearance: Weathered from 15+ years of frontier service
Distinguishing marks: Scars from Germanic campaigns, calloused hands from engineering work
Bearing: Confident military posture, practical rather than ceremonial presentation
Equipment: Well-maintained but functional gear, engineering tools alongside standard military kit

Family Background & Origins

The Flavius Clan:

Heritage: Gallic nobility who gained Roman citizenship under Julius Caesar
Father: Flavius Maximus, veteran centurion who served in Germany under Tiberius
Family Tradition: Military engineering and practical service rather than political ambition
Cultural Identity: Gallic-Roman hybrid - proud of Roman service but retains Gallic practicality

Class: Equestrian rank through military service and family citizenship
Wealth: Comfortable but not wealthy - career soldier’s means
Connections: Network of veteran officers across multiple legions
Reputation: Known as Scapula’s go-to troubleshooter for impossible engineering problems

Military Career & Experience

Early Service (35–42 CE) - Legio XIV Gemina:

Recruitment: Joined at 18 as architectus (engineering specialist)
Assignment: 7 years on the Rhine frontier under various legates
Specialisation: Bridge construction, siege works, winter camp fortification
Key Actions: Built temporary bridges under Germanic fire, constructed siege towers
Promotion: Rose to optio (junior officer) in engineering century
Languages Acquired: Fluent Latin, Gallic, basic Germanic dialects

Claudian Invasion Preparation (42–43 CE) - Legio II Augusta:

Transfer: Moved for British expedition preparation under future emperor Vespasian
Innovation: Developed improved amphibious assault engineering techniques
Promotion: Elevated to Centurion of engineering cohort
Reputation: Solver of “impossible” technical challenges

British Campaigns (43–47 CE):

Invasion: Landed with Aulus Plautius’s initial force
Notable Engineering Projects:
Thames crossing that secured Londinium
Siege works for Camulodunum assault
Fosse Way defensive positions
Final Promotion: Advanced to Tribune/Praefectus Fabrum by 46 CE
Current Role: Chief engineering officer for Scapula’s Welsh campaigns

Combat Experience:

Not just an engineer: Fought in shield wall during Germanic raids
Leadership Style: Leads from front, shares dangers with his men
Tactical Knowledge: 15 years of practical battlefield problem-solving
Cultural Understanding: Bridges Roman military efficiency with local knowledge

Current Position Under Scapula

Official Role:

Title: Tribune/Praefectus Fabrum (Chief of Engineers)
Responsibility: Oversees fortress construction programme across Welsh frontier
Authority: Commands engineering cohorts, requisitions specialist equipment and materials
Reporting: Direct access to Governor Scapula for construction progress and complications

Practical Duties:

Site Inspection: Personal examination of construction sites and mining operations
Resource Management: Organising materials, tools, and specialised personnel
Problem Resolution: Scapula’s troubleshooter for engineering challenges
Cultural Liaison: Interface between Roman military and local knowledge/workforce

Command Structure:

Subordinates: Mixed engineering centuries including:
Gallic auxiliaries (shares cultural background)
German deserters (speaks their language)
British prisoners integrated into work gangs
Italian engineering specialists from Rome
Peers: Other tribunes and senior centurions
Superiors: Governor Scapula, legion legates

Personality Traits

Core Characteristics:

Pragmatic Problem-Solver: 15 years of making impossible things work
Culturally Aware: Gallic background provides insight into Celtic thinking
Professionally Confident: Earned position through competence, not politics
Adaptable: Known for modifying traditional techniques for new challenges
Loyal: Strong network of veteran connections, reliable subordinate

Strengths:

Technical Expertise: Master of Roman engineering and construction
Leadership Ability: Respected by diverse group of subordinates
Combat Experience: Not afraid to fight alongside his men when necessary
Cultural Bridge: Can work effectively with Celtic auxiliaries and locals
Innovation: Develops new solutions when standard methods fail

Potential Weaknesses:

Direct Communication: Sometimes too blunt for political situations
Impatience: Frustrated by bureaucratic delays when practical solutions exist
Provincial Origins: Occasional tension with aristocratic Roman officers
Work Focus: Can become obsessed with solving technical challenges

Speech Patterns & Voice

Communication Style:

Direct but Respectful: Clear communication without unnecessary ceremony
Problem-Focused: “The issue is…” “We need to…” “That won’t work because…”
Technical Precision: Exact vocabulary when discussing engineering matters
Economic Language: Doesn’t waste words on unnecessary explanation

Address Patterns:

Superiors: Formal but confident - “Governor,” “Sir” - gives honest assessments
Subordinates: Clear commands mixed with soldier’s camaraderie - “Right, lads…”
Peers: Professional respect with dry humour about impossible situations

Distinctive Phrases:

Opening Thoughts: “The way I see it…” / “From where I stand…” / “In my experience…”
Problem-Solving: “We need to think about this differently” / “Back to basics”
Mild Frustration: “Jupiter’s balls…” / “This is becoming complicated”
Gallic Influences: More colourful metaphors than pure Romans - practical craft references

Internal Voice:

Analytical: Approaches problems systematically, considers multiple factors
Observational: Notices details others miss, questions anomalies
Practical: Focused on what works rather than theoretical concerns

Skills & Abilities

Military Engineering:

Construction: Fortress design, bridge building, siege works
Mining Operations: Excavation techniques, structural support, mineral extraction
Logistics: Resource management, supply chain organisation
Innovation: Adapting techniques for local conditions and materials

Combat Skills:

Infantry Fighting: Trained in gladius, scutum, and pilum
Leadership: Small unit tactics, battlefield command
Siege Warfare: Attack and defence of fortified positions
Survival: Frontier living, foraging, emergency construction

Languages & Cultural Knowledge:

Languages: Fluent Latin, Gallic, basic Germanic dialects, learning Brythonic Celtic
Cultural Understanding: Roman military tradition, Gallic customs, Germanic tribal behaviour
Developing: Celtic religious practices, local geographical knowledge

Technical Expertise:

Metallurgy: Working with iron, bronze, and specialised alloys
Geology: Understanding terrain for construction and mining
Mathematics: Engineering calculations, structural load assessment
Management: Organising diverse work crews, resource allocation

Character Arc Potential

Starting Point:

Pragmatic Military Engineer: Confident in Roman technical superiority
Routine Assignment: Expects standard fortress construction challenges
Professional Competence: Reputation built on solving difficult but conventional problems

Transformation Journey:

Initial Supernatural Encounters: Technical problems that defy rational explanation
Growing Awareness: Recognition that conventional solutions are inadequate
Knowledge Integration: Learning to combine Roman engineering with ancient Celtic wisdom
Innovation Under Pressure: Developing supernatural countermeasures and containment protocols
Ultimate Sacrifice: Personal cost of becoming Rome’s first supernatural warfare specialist

Final State:

Pioneer of Supernatural Engineering: Creator of the iron protocols used centuries later
Cultural Bridge: Synthesizer of Roman technical knowledge and Celtic mystical understanding
Tragic Hero: Success achieved at personal cost, knowledge preserved for future generations

Relationships & Connections

Professional Network:

Governor Scapula: Trusted troubleshooter, increasingly relied upon for impossible problems
Engineering Corps: Loyal subordinates who follow him into supernatural situations
Veteran Community: Connections across multiple legions from 15 years of service
Local Auxiliaries: Growing respect from Celtic troops who appreciate his cultural awareness

Potential Character Dynamics:

Mentor Figure: To junior engineers facing supernatural challenges
Cultural Interpreter: Between Roman command and Celtic mystical knowledge
Innovation Catalyst: Inspires others to think beyond conventional limitations
Tragic Inspiration: His sacrifice enables future supernatural defence capabilities

Historical Context & Authenticity

Period Accuracy:

Timeline: Perfectly positioned for Scapula’s Welsh campaigns (47–52 CE)
Military Structure: Appropriate rank and responsibilities for the period
Cultural Background: Realistic Gallic-Roman heritage common in mid-1st century legions
Technical Knowledge: Authentic Roman engineering capabilities for the era

Archaeological Basis:

Roman Mining: Extensive evidence of 1st century CE extraction operations in Wales
Military Engineering: Well-documented fortress construction techniques
Cultural Integration: Historical precedent for non-Roman citizens in engineering roles
Regional Expertise: Logical development of specialised knowledge for British conditions

Narrative Flexibility:

Historical Gaps: Fits perfectly within Tacitus’s documented but vaguely described periods
Character Agency: Sufficient authority for meaningful action without contradicting sources
Cultural Authenticity: Believable for period while allowing supernatural story elements
Technical Credibility: Engineering background makes supernatural countermeasures development realistic

Notes for Writers

Voice Consistency:

Maintain direct, practical communication style throughout
Vary formality level based on social context (superiors vs. subordinates)
Include occasional Gallic expressions or references to mark provincial background
Show technical expertise through precise vocabulary and systematic problem-solving

Character Development:

Begin with confidence in Roman technical superiority
Progress through growing awareness of limitations
Culminate in synthesis of Roman and Celtic knowledge
End with tragic heroism - knowledge preserved at personal cost

Historical Integration:

Research specific Roman engineering techniques for period accuracy
Incorporate authentic military procedures and terminology
Balance supernatural elements with historically plausible activities
Connect character actions to documented historical outcomes (Scapula’s fortress programme, mysterious death)

Marcus Flavius Cursor represents the perfect protagonist for a Roman supernatural warfare novel: technically competent, culturally aware, historically authentic, and positioned to believably encounter and combat otherworldly threats while maintaining the gritty realism that Roman fiction readers demand.