The Lost Child

Written by Aeterno

Cato Gladius (a.k.a. Cat)

Meditrina was well into her isolated confinement sentence the night she gave birth to her son, Cato. The pair sat in silence, and darkness, for hours on end; not a single soul to bear witness to the misery and glory of this moment save for themselves. Wrapped tightly in her blanket Meditrina kept her whole life close to heart, afraid that even a second away would mean the end of it all.
On any other day, she would find that awake, and unable to sleep in such a cold and miserable cell a punishment from the gods but tonight it was a gift greater than anything else. For this scene, as strange as it was, had been the only good thing to happen to her in months, and she would not let the guards, or anyone else for that matter, be aware of her little slice of heaven.
Not until dawn came.

---

Shortly after the sun rose, Cato was taken from his mother's arms, his birth and relation to a Gladius pure-blood kept hidden. An orphanage in Eno was eager to take him in, and he grew up to believe his whole family to be dead.
At around the age of twelve, Cato noticed unusual details in his life; every morning he awoke to a snake watching from the window above his head. At first, this bothered him, but over time he was desensitized to the strangeness of it all and grew to find comfort in the snake's presence. At night the snake would appear, nod until he laid now, and disappear if it thought him asleep. On days he went outside to the surrounding fields with others he would find the snake not too far away, always just within seeing distance. Soon, when he was alone, Cato held conversations with the snake; never did he claim to hear it speak, but he insisted on knowing what it replied.
Second; objects and events of dark nature or supernatural and magickal forms seemed to be attracted to him, like metal to a magnet. The orphanage denied and theories or reasons for this behavior and any mention of it would upset them to no end. The caretakers, child protection groups, and those who looked to adopt share the concerns; a child who could not go a day without a weird incident was, of course, something to be unnerved by.
As soon as he turned of age, Cato left the orphanage and all of Auferetu without a trace. Soon he was in Veritas and traveled to find work in the form of odd jobs when a fisherman who hired him made a passing remark on his appearance. When asked about the meaning behind the comment, the fisherman spun a tale, one of a legendary family who reveled in the dark and magickal. How they protected those around them and taught great magicks, skills, and science.
The story intrigued Cato, so much so that he made the trip to the family's estate as soon as the job was over. When he arrived at the edge of the estate, after a whole day spent looking for the hidden road, he would be disappointed to find it in great disrepair. His travels changed in nature, from the main goal to find a nice place to settle down now to find out more about the family, and why the estate was abandoned.

Social

Family Ties

Whether he was aware of it or not, Cato's direct relation to the main Gladius family bloodline has affected much of his day-to-day life. As a child, this was often shown through stranger's being extra courteous to him and those around him, items presented to him had a vague theme to them or an unexplainable attraction to weird and dark tones.
As he grew older, it became more evident of his heritage, with the signature nose, skin tone, and far more hidden freckles the family was famous for. When Cato learned of his relation to the Gladius Bloodline he journeyed from Auferetu where he grew up to Veritas, his homeland on the other side of the mountain, to learn more about them from locals. As of current, he resides in a part of the Eastern Groves that border along the Middle Ground.
More details of how he deals with the family bloodline and potential interactions are to be revealed in later stories, after those stories are published this article and other related ones with be updated with more accurate information.

Social Aptitude

In nature, Cato comes across as lazy or slow, this is often capitalized by the baggy clothes and cheap items he carries with him. Never one to waste what little money he has, Cato often puts durability over fashion, and many things he owns are made as survival tools. He shares his family's curiosity, but instead of science, it is pointed more so to life itself. With a personality of a sarcastic teenager, matched with no commitments, and the ability to literally leave anywhere anytime he wants, Cato often stirs up trouble before he disappears from a town or settlement.

Enjoy some ambiance as you read!

This song is what comes to mind, in terms of theme, that I feel fits the character at his current stage the best.

Alignment

Neutral Dumbass

Current Location

Veritas

Species

Subtilis Mutatio

Ethnicity

Vitae Clausia

Year of Birth

5698 NW 18 Years old

Circumstances of Birth

Cato was born to Meditrina in a cold stone cell in the dead of night, before being taken away at morning's first light.

Current Residence

Eastern Groves, Veritas

Gender

Male

Eyes

Dark blue, half-lided

Hair

Messy waves, dark brown, medium

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tanned-Spice, freckled

Height

5'8"

Weight

165 lbs

Aligned Organization

The Gladius Bloodline