Welcome to Gaia! ::

Mars. Once a grand world, the capital of the Galactic Roman Empire. Until the Supermassive Gamma Burst changed all that. The jets of gas that had suddenly exploded from the galactic center effectively destroyed several nations and drove many species to extinction. The survivors of the disaster flooded the unaffected star systems and resources were drained trying to accommodate the refugees. The make matters worse, the unaffected nations of the galactic community seized the chance to take revenge on old enemies.

The lenaar, ancient rival of the Atolian Kingdoms; took advantage of the situation and stormed across hundreds of systems, leaving more destruction in their wake. The gnolata, a small tribal species did not survive this invasion and were brutally exterminated. The maltir...the original founders of the Kingdoms were driven back and scattered. Eventually, they too were annihilated. Their dirdelk cousins managed to survive, however and fled into various isolated systems.

The kendari closed the borders to their empire and ceased all external communication. Hyperspace navigational relays to their territories were destroyed, cutting off all vessel traffic. To this day, no one has been able to successfully make contact with those mysterious aliens.

Refugees from all over the galaxy flooded into what remained of the GRE, and soon the Roma system became a temporary safe haven, until the lenaar, pirate fleets and the splintered remains of fallen nations saw an opportunity.

Within a span of three decades, the Galactic Roman Empire was repeatedly invaded until its fleets were destroyed and the remaining legions defeated.

Supreme Imperatrix Phaedra Fletcher (Daughter of Remus) was killed in her valiant last stand to protect the capital, along with her Praetorian Guard. Rome burned, its citizens raped and murdered in the streets. Cities were looted and stripped of valuable resources. The greatest nation in the galaxy came to a violent and bloody end, the same way it was born.

Centuries later, a familiar man returns to the forgotten ruins on Mars. A hated man, but only by the dead....and those few immortal and long lived types.

Rom moved on, walking through some tall grass where a drive used to be. He stopped momentarily to gaze up at the large ruined chapel. The roof was gone and the walls were covered in vines. Somehow, a single stained glass window remained. The image on the glass was a mysterious figure wearing a wide brimmed hat and wielding a crossbow firing flaming bolts. A large cross was mounted on his back.

Rom stared for what seemed like several minutes. His lips slowly curled into a snarl.

A moment later, a red arc of lightning shattered the remaining window. Romulus stood with his arm outstretched, his partly clutched fingers glowing with writhing energy.

Peace restored in his heart, Rom continued walking.

"Not many come here anymore" A man remarked from a nearby perch, a curious note to his voice. Righting himself into a position more suited for proper conversation, he eyed Romulus.

"Fewer still stay for any amount of time. Only a fraction of that group seem to have a purpose, and I must say you're the first that seems like he belongs" Langer continued, stretching briefly, before standing up and moving closer.

"Langer Vile, at your service" he said, holding out a gauntleted hand in greeting.

"It is a place devoid of prying eyes, where a man can usually go about his business undisturbed" Langer commented, stepping back to maintain a respectable social distance.

"And those that do disturb have the promise of entertainment, if at least for a short while" Langer added, his brow furrowed in thought.

"If I were merely after riches, that door before you wouldn't exist on this plane anymore. I am here more for research, both of those that existed here, and those that visit" Langer replied, shrugging off the idea that had come to mind.

He continued to observe Romulus

Langer thought it over. The bandits and fortune seekers hadn't showed themselves for a while, so Romulus wasn't likely to desecrate the grave for profit. Furthermore he seemed to have a purpose inside.

Langer nodded to Romulus, walking towards the door. Laying both gauntleted hands on the metal monstrosity, Langer set about doing what he did best. Demolition.

After a few minutes of concentration Langer took steps back from the door, counting down from 5 with the fingers of one hand. As the countdown reached zero, the door exploded, the molecules turning into oxygen, a few scorch marks and assorted stone fragments the only hint to something having been there.

The Imperator formed a ball of lightning on his right hand to illuminate his path. He noticed that he was standing on a steep stone stairwell that twisted and turned into the darkness. As he went further down, the stair opened up into a large, echoing vault. Stone walkways and platforms crisscrossed the vault that were supported by columns. Many of the platforms had mausoleums and shrines. For the Praetorians, Rom assumed.

"How much did you spend to dig up and construct this place, Remus?" Rom wondered aloud.

The Betrayer stole a glance over the edge of the steps. The vault didn't even seem to have a bottom. It was shrines, mausoleums, stair cases and pillars all the way down. What was most unsettling however, was that they didn't end in darkness. It was a pale bluish glow. And was there a faint sound of machinery running? Impossible.

Rom looked away from the depths and continued down.

The stair ended and Romulus found himself walking through one of the mausoleums. Deceased Praetorians stood propped up in tiny alcoves. At the base of their feet were their names, birth and death dates. Each one was wrapped up with a blank white mask covering their faces. Going past the mausoleum, Romulus found himself in an armory. The weapons were in pristine condition. The pulse rifles were clean, save for a light dust coat. The combat knives and short swords were still sharp without a spot of rust.

"An armory? In here? What purpose does that serve? What do you think, Mr. Vile? Our dear departed Imperator wants to conquer the depths of Hell? "