The Gladius Bloodline
At times when we used to get impatient about how slow progress was, my mother used to tell us[me and my sisters] a saying; 'While the person on top should not be taken for a fool, it is the kid at the bottom, who is always stepped on, that you should never underestimate.' She believed that the most dangerous people were the ones who were allowed themselves to be thrown about, used, and discarded; for they are the patient ones, they watch and learn and wait for their turn on the top of the pyramid, and when that time comes, you can believe they won't feel any remorse or mercy for those who saw them as a simple pawn.The Gladius Family can be described in one word; intimidating, no matter what it is they do there's just this feeling that they can easily throw you to the side without the need to lift a finger. With a hefty influence all throughout the island, the Gladius family name is not one to be uttered carelessly.
A Brief History Overview
The Beginning
The Gladius family-name has been around from before the third re-birth of Ultimus, as historical markers hint at a rising power with the same name. But for the most part, they remained under the radar for the first few hundred years into the fourth incarnation. Over the years the family began to take interest in unique, and often 'underground' trends, but the way they presented it would gather the public's attention not only to the trend in question, but to the family.Rising Power
Soon they would gain traction with a series of musical innovators, they would throw grand parties and invite all of Veritas to attend, and given time the more elite of Auferetu would beg to be included.When the Gladius began to spread to Auferetu, it carried with i rumors of musical geniusses and delightful parties.Favors in Due
The family slowly grew in power over the ages, they gained in rank and importance with each small favor done to fellow families and established groups.With each generation the family took on new interests and hobbies to gain attention not only as a family of entertainers, but of advice in diplomatic and personal issues. When the music and shows and parties died down, they turned their attention to academia while they still maintained a musical outlet of sorts.The Modern Tragedy
The newer generations would pull up old favors owed to the family which had been stockpiled for future use, and with them were used to gain access to private or carefully guarded academic circles and buildings throughout the whole island. Each member born into the family brought with them a new outlook on old magicks and sciences. The most common examples include the breakthroughs in the Voidist profession brought on by Ammitt, and the almost religious lights in the city of Eno and coastal areas to help create peaceful and safe areas in settlements.A Shadow of Its Former Self
Today the family is run by Cantionis, and she overlooks operations of a private and global scale, paired with her Paragon status she uses the resources at her disposal to prevent and stop all kinds of disasters, and sometimes uses less than 'legal' measures to take down corrupt people.Other
Historical Records
As mentioned before, there are some historical records which mention the family as a previous important bloodline. While the true nature of these records are still unknown, it is hard to deny the text within. Much of the records themselves are lost to rot, but from what remains it is hinted that the Gladius bloodline protected the island prior to the Fourth Incarnation.The Mother of All, sire to the Mother of the Stars, stood Velo from her perch above the universe. She watched the rise and fall of planets, societies, and self-appointed 'legends'; she bore witness to the death and rebirth of geniuses and leaders alike. And while her influence and name had spread far and wide, only a few devoted themselves to her, among them were the Gladius clan. Velo watched from her perched, as they worked to defend her name and those around them, the way they lived intrigued. One night she swept down into their dreams, and deemed them worthy of special gift, one of brilliance and intuition. Naturally, the clan was in shock of this discovery, but over time they perfected the uses of it, and whether it was a conscious decision of not, they put their aim into protecting their land and their people. Members traveled to all points of the island and set up quarters to keep watch over the land, some even made friends with the mythical creatures that roamed the seas, like the brilliant Colossus who made rounds across the lands. Long has, and long shall the Gladius protect us from the wrath of the angry, the greedy, the gluttonous, and ourselves.
Articles That Mention A Gladius Member
Well Known Members
Type
Family
Demonym
Gladius'
Leader
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Featured!
Thank you guys so much for the feature and for giving this article a look through, the more recent members of the Gladius Family will be the main characters of a comic I'm working on dubbed 'Grateful'. Sadly I don't have any clean pics to post on here as a celebration but I can share with you the Pinterest board I've made concerning the aesthetic of the family and individual members. I hope you enjoy the mood music and the little information I've posted here. <3 The Gladius Family Cantionis Gladius On top of these Pinterest inspiration boards, I have two different Spotify playlists to share as well; the First is a playlist inspired by Lady Gladius and the second is a playlist of inspiration music I listen to while working on the Grateful comic.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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Author's Notes
I'm currently working on a family portrait illustration and will continue to update this article before the end of the family article.