Welcome to The Last Days of Pompeii, a Storium game that begins a few weeks prior to the fateful eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The game immerses players in a prosperous yet decadent Roman city where intrigue, greed, and violence remain staples of daily life. Your characters—ranging from the noble Athenian, Glaucus, and his betrothed, Ione, to the cynical Senator, Gaius Claudius Pulcher, and the enslaved Gladiator, Lydon—are initially caught up in the complex web of Pompeian society. In this opening act, the primary objective is to navigate the social, political, and romantic conflicts that are already in motion. Players will be attending feasts, making political maneuvers, and managing their personal relationships, all while the primary antagonist, the Egyptian priest Arbaces, quietly schemes to eliminate Glaucus and possess Ione.
The tension in the first phase is slow-burning and psychological. The looming threat of Vesuvius is initially just a silent mountain in the background, but small tremors or unusual weather might serve as subtle Foreshadowing Complications. Players must leverage their unique Strengths—be it political Influence, social Reputation, Deep Compassion, or physical Strength—to advance their personal goals, thwart Arbaces’s early manipulations, and secure resources or allies. The stakes suddenly and catastrophically change when the catastrophic eruption hits mid-game. The social and political struggles are instantly superseded by the desperate scramble for survival, forcing characters to confront the true meaning of their earlier choices and determine what, and whom, is truly worth saving as the city is consumed by ash and fire.
This Storium game utilizes a set of Pre-Made Characters (PCs) loosely based on Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s classic novel, The Last Days of Pompeii, with subtle thematic embellishments drawn from modern cinematic adaptations (such as the 1984 miniseries). This foundation provides players with established personalities, defined conflicts, and immediate connections crucial for diving straight into the story. You will step into the sandals of figures like Glaucus (the noble, but perhaps too trusting Athenian), Ione (the compassionate ward caught between rivals), Lydon (the powerful, mistrustful gladiator), Nydia (the sensitive, loyal flower girl), and Gaius Claudius Pulcher (the cynical, world-weary ex-Senator). Other characters will be playing their part as well!
Unlike some Storium scenarios that focus primarily on individual responses to environmental or external plot challenges, this game demands meaningful interaction between players and their characters. The early phase of the game—before the eruption—is dedicated to weaving a rich tapestry of intrigue, romance, and rivalry. Your success will rely heavily on how you develop your personal relationships:
Intrigue and Rivalry: Will you trust the cynical advice of Pulcher, or will your character’s actions unwittingly play into the hands of the unseen antagonist, Arbaces? Will Lydon’s attempts to protect Nydia inadvertently clash with Glaucus’s authority?
Romance and Loyalty: How do the feelings of Glaucus and Ione evolve as Arbaces attempts to poison their bond? How will Nydia’s selfless, unrequited love for Glaucus drive her to interact with Ione?
Mutual Goals: You must actively seek out, develop, and test alliances with your fellow players. The true emotional climax of the game is not Vesuvius, but the moral choices made under duress, and those choices will be defined by the bonds you have forged or broken with the other player characters in the weeks leading up to the disaster. Your collaborative storytelling is the core of this experience.
Hosted and narrated by:
Tacronicus Cornelius (Tacronicus)
Started 11/09/25.
Scenes played: 0
License: Community License
