Main Character in A Courtesan of Rome is the main protagonist of A Courtesan of Rome book.
Although her default name is "Arin", the player can choose to name her as they wish.
Appearance
Her appearance is customizable according to the player's preferences. In all versions, she has a tattoo on the right side, directly under her collarbone.
Personality
- "I need to look like... an avenging goddess. Someone men will commit murders for."
- —Main Character
In general, Main Character's personality is based on player's choices. She may be bitter and rude, what often results in poor reputation and relationships; she may be polite and refined, what often improves her +Reputation; or she may be savvy and calculated, what often improves her +Wiles. Choosing romance options for potential love interests and/or buying premium scenes with them may affect some dialogues and choices.
In the very first chapter, the player is given a choice between: Designated Survivor, Devoted Daughter and An Eye for an Eye, which are said to decide Main Character's fate. Actually, this choice affects some scenes in the Chapter 16, particularly reminiscence at the beginning of the chapter, and the final dialogue with Aquila.
Chapters
A Courtesan of Rome
A Courtesan of Rome
- Chapter 1: A Princess of Gaul
- Chapter 2: Crossing the Rubicon
- Chapter 3: The Aid of the Gods
- Chapter 4: The Hunt
- Chapter 5: Red-Handed
- Chapter 6: Marked
- Chapter 7: A Fighting Chance
- Chapter 8: The Goddess of Watching
- Chapter 9: Power Vacuum
- Chapter 10: Snakes in the Grass
- Chapter 11: Trial By Combat
- Chapter 12: Raising The Stakes
- Chapter 13: Bread and Circus
- Chapter 14: A Twist of Fate
- Chapter 15: Best Served Cold
- Chapter 16: Triumph
- Chapter 17: A Life for a Life
- Chapter 18: The Die is Cast
- Chapter 19: A Warrior's Death
- Chapter 20: The Liberators
- Chapter 21: The Ides of March
Relationships
Victus
Victus is Main Character's father. Depending on our choices we get different dialogues, but in any case Victus is loving and caring father. He taught Main Character how to track and hunt animals. Later, after Romans' invasion, he gave her a bronze knife and taught her how to fight. In Chapter 18, she can chose whether or not to have Victus taken away with Flavius. If she chooses to free Syphax, Victus will be understanding and tells them to rebuild the tribe.
Delphinia
Delphinia is Main Character's mother. She taught her the basic knowledge about Tsirona. During the marking ceremony, Delphinia helps her daughter to ease the pain. In the diamond choices, Main Character is able to contact with her via the latter one's visions. Regardless of our choices, Delphinia is loving and caring mother. In Chapter 18, Delphinia has a vision of Caesar bloodied and her daughter triumphant.
Cingerix
Cingerix is Main Character's brother; in a premium choice in Chapter 21, it's revealed that he's younger than Main Character. They often tease each other a lot, but care about each other. In the reminiscences, Cingerix is shown as reckless and naive, while Main Character is more mature and clever. They both meet at the end of Chapter 18, after Main Character's attempt to kill Caesar. In the Chapter 19 it's revealed that he became a Roman legionary, and the player has a possibility to win him back in a premium scene, or to condemn him. In the first option, he later visits Main Character in the gladiators' barracks in purpose to prepare her before her fight on the arena. His fate in the final chapter varies depending on the player's choices. If Main Character won him back, he joins the conspiracy against Caesar. Otherwise, Main Character has an option to talk him down or kill him.
Marc Antony
Marc is one of Main Character's love interests. She gains his interest during her debut in Cassius' villa. He's allured by her beauty and wits, especially if she flirts with him. Nearly immediately he recognizes her as this Catauni girl. In Chapter 4, during the hunt, he offers her a female greyhound, which she can adopt. Later he often demands her company during public events, like: bawdy screenplay in the theatre, party in popina or Vulcanalia parade. In Chapter 15, Xanthe manages to turn him against Main Character by false accusations. In Chapter 17, when Main Character asks him to spare both Victus and Syphax, she can also reclaim Antony's affection towards her. It's implied that he already recognized Victus as her father. Buying one or more premium scenes with Antony (Chapter 9, 13 or 17) affects some choices and dialogues, making him more caring and gentle towards Main Character.
Senator Cassius Longinus
Cassius is one of Main Character's love interests. He is her first patron, and her debut takes place in his villa. He's gentle and protective towards her. It's revealed very soon that he is in love with her from the very first sight, and wants to be more than patron for her. It's hinted that Cassius is jealous for Marc Antony, but he understands the necessity of Main Character's contacts with the latter one.
Sabina
Sabina is one of Main Character's love interests. They both meet during the latter one's debut. Initially Sabina mistakes her as a fellow noble Roman wife. At first, she's frightened and insecure, but eventually starts to trust Main Character. Mistreated by men, she feels safe only with another young woman. Depending on our choices, Sabina may become Main Character's lover or stay friends.
Syphax
Syphax is one of Main Character's love interests. He loves her dearly, probably since the very day they met, and stays faithful regardless of Main Character's choices. Syphax is selfless and protective towards her. He understands the specifics of a courtesan's job, and never shows any sign of jealousy. He's devoted to Main Character to this extent that he decides to take her blame on himself, even if he would pay for this with his life. In Chapter 18, she can chose whether or not to have Syphax taken away with Flavius. If she succeeds with the help of her reputation, they can go swimming together in a premium scene of the same chapter.
Lena
Lena is the villica of one of Rome's finest scholae. She bought Main Character to free her, as she used to do with all of her apprentices. Under her care Main Character learnt to sing, play cithara and entertain men. Lena is caring, understanding and responsible for Main Character and other girls, and settles disputes between them justly.
Xanthe
Xanthe is former top courtesan at Lena's scholae. She is very jealous and spiteful towards Main Character, and often plots intrigues against her.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is the Roman general that Main Character has sworn to kill since her capture eight years ago. When he arrives in Rome, Main Character is offered to him as a tribute by Antony. Although Caesar is not immune to her charms, he is still cautious around her and aware of the jealousy she evokes in Cleopatra. After Cleopatra storms away from him, Main Character has the option to seduce Caesar with or without Cleopatra. If she chooses Caesar alone, he asks her to keep it a secret from Cleopatra. Being intimate with him with or without Cleopatra causes him to lower his guard during the banquet the next evening. If Main Character decides not to seduce him, he will demand that she drink the wine before him to test it before he drinks.
After the unsuccessful assassination attempt, Caesar sentences Main Character to the arena. He doesn't intend to give her a chance to survive, ordering Flavius to poison her to weaken her before the fight. Despite his foul play, Main Character wins her fight with the help of Delphinia. Caesar officially forgives her, but in Chapter 21, he sends assassins after Main Character, who she easily defeats with the help of Syphax. Caesar stays ruthless and unforgiving even if Main Character romanced him before. In the final chapter, Main Character with the other Liberators fulfills her goal and assassinates him.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is a queen of Egypt and vassal of Rome. She's also Caesar's lover and mother of his son Caesarion. She meets Main Character in Chapter 18, when the latter is offered to Caesar by Antony as a tribute. Initially, Cleopatra shows jealousy, asking why would Caesar need a courtesan, when he has the heart of queen of Egypt. Main Character has an option to flirt with her. Later, after the queen's quarrel with Caesar, Main Character can share the bath with Cleopatra, Caesar or both of them, and even seduce any of them or both of them. If Main Character sleeps only with Cleopatra, the latter asks her to keep this fact from Caesar. In Chapter 19, after Main Character's unsuccessful attempt to kill Caesar, Cleopatra is thirsty for revenge, and demands immediate death punishment for the assassin. She stays hateful towards Main Character until the end, even if earlier they shared intimacy. Despite the queen's hostile attitude, Main Character manages to convince her to leave Rome in Chapter 20, leaving Caesar mentally off-balance.
Character Customization
Face & Hair
Outfit Choices
Miscellaneous
Trivia
- A version of main character is shown on the cover of A Courtesan of Rome.
- The default name Arin is a variant of the names Erin and Aaron. The name Erin is of English and Irish origin, which means "Ireland". The name Aaron is of Hebrew origin and means "high mountain" or "exalted".
- The character model with blonde hair and fair skin bears a resemblance to American actress Fiona Gubelmann.
- She and Cingerix are half-Gallic from their father's side and half-Egyptian from their mother's.