"Strategy?!! What need have I for strategy. I have 80,000 Romans and the blessings of Jupiter. What need have I for strategy?!"

  - Consul Gaius Terentius Varro.

  Aurelia woke fitfully. She had been unable to sleep knowing that today marked the moment where she became an adult, and all the problems and opportunities that comes with such a moment.

  She craned her neck outside the small window in her closet, little more than a small slit in the stone exterior, and looked out towards the center of Rome.

  The Capitoline hill, with it's many temples and forums, was visible over the terra-cotta roofs of the outer districts. The temple of Jupiter, the rgest and grandest of them all, was high enough that Aurelia could just spot the statue of Jupiter himself atop the central crest.

  She shivered, rife with anticipation and anxiousness.

  Dressing as best she could, she tried to pick out the cleanest and most pure of her robes. It wouldn't do to track dirt and grime all the way to the priesthood.

  Stepping out into the narrow hallway, she padded softly down it's length. A habit from waking early for her work outside. She was about to reach exit and step out into the side gardens when an exited brunette projectile smmed into her and nearly knocked her off her feet.

  "Oh my goodness, today's the day!" Livia excimed. "I can't wait for my own next week!, You have to tell me everything as soon as you get back. And don't you dare spare any details!"

  Aurelia chuckled, and gently set the smaller woman back down on her feet.

  "Shh, it's still early in the morning, you'll wake half the temple". Then, her face softened, and a smile began to spread to echo that of her friend's.

  "But I will tell you everything. We've had this conversation almost everyday after all"

  Aurelia paused and considered. "But maybe I'll keep my boons to myself after all, with you being near me for so long, the gods might see fit to offer me one to silence the nattering of small pests"

  "Hey! I'm not that small, it's just you that's big!" Livia spouted indignantly.

  "Whatever you say, little fly." Aurelia replied, then after embracing her friend, she made to leave the temple for the st time as a child.

  The crowds fairly sparse as Aurelia made her way deeper into the city. The temple of Ceres was positioned in the outer districts, where it could be closer to farmers and groves of her domain. By contrast, most of the other big temples were located much closer to the city center, where they could be worshipped by the great and powerful.

  The temple of Jupiter was the most important in Rome, being chief among the Roman pantheon. And as such it was situated near the senate, and other centers of power.

  As Aurelia walked, she began to notice her surroundings change. The building became cleaner, more maintained, and rger in general. The people began to look nicer, their clothes more brightly coloured. Simple robes like Aurelia's began to turn into more eborate togas, elegantly arranged to dispy one's css and importance.

  Almost no non-humans stalked these streets. And Aurelia began to attract attention as people began to eye her with suspicion and curiosity.

  She paused to eye a clothing store on her way, listening in to a sale being made out of curiosity.

  She paled, and quickly began on her way. The prices being bartered over were more money than she'd ever seen in person. They rivaled entire days of temple revenue from selling their products.

  At st, a high hill toped by a vast temple complex came into view. At the base of the hill was a wide square, filled with coloured stalls stuffed with small wonders and trinkets.

  Merchants of every sort and denomination hawked their wares, eager to dispy them to passersby.

  None seemed to gnce at Aurelia for more than a second they guessed (correctly) by her clothes that she wasn't in a position to be buying anything on offer that day.

  She paused again by a small stall, this one den with what looked like oddly coloured produce. She could see that there were mushrooms, flowers, and various exotic fruits. But they were all so brightly coloured that they almost seemed to glow.

  She walked on after an ugly gre from the storekeeper. Evidently he wasn't a fan of people loitering if they weren't going to buy anything.

  At st she found herself at the bottom of a series of stone steps which led up to the temple itself.

  There were a few others also making the trek this early in the morning. Some looked eager to obtain some service or another from one of the priests, some evidently looking for an augury about something important to them.

  It was all very important and dignified, she was sure. But there were also a few people like her.

  People who stood out in drab, slightly dirty clothes. All looking to be around the same age, they all mounted the steps, nervous gnces about themselves at all the finery which was on dispy around them.

  At the top of the steps there were a few priests directing supplicants further into the temple. They took one look at Aurelia and the others, and one detached from the group to lead them further in.

  They passed by meticulously maintained gardens, high marble columns, and richly adorned priests. The temple of Jupiter seemed much rger and grander than that of Ceres. Aurelia supposed that when your clientele were senators and generals, rather than farmers, the perks came along with them.

  They arrived at a chamber dominated by a rge statue of Jupiter, with five priests attending to a person coming of age at the base. There was a small line, which they joined.

  There were humans and beastfolk, and even a few more exotic dwarves and other races Aurelia couldn't identify.

  They whispered amongst themselves Aurelia gleaning that most were like her, and from the outer districts of the city. Most wealthier families either had a priest come to them, or were magically gifted enough to be able to access the gifts of the gods themselves without needing to consult the temple of Jupiter.

  The final wait was almost unbearable.

  Nervous jitters flooded her body, and she just couldn't stand still. Shifting from side to side and ruffling her feathers.

  Slowly, the line shifted forward as people received their first boon, and left the chamber.

  Some appeared ecstatic, delighted with their newfound fortune and eager to face the world and tell their friends and family. Others weren't quite so happy. Seeming to mope out of the room with their heads bowed.

  Aurelia hoped she would be the former.

  At st she stood at the head of the line, a priest beckoned her over when he had finished with his previous charge.

  He was a thin, grey haired man. Cleanshaven and draped in the robes of his station. He looked her up and down, having to crane his neck slightly to meet her eyes.

  "Never seen someone quite like you" he said with mild curiosity. "But no matter, the gods smile on you all the same, step forward my child. And kneel."

  Aurelia did as she was bade, and lowered herself to her knees. She was about eyeline with the man's colrbone, but still, she bowed her head reverently.

  "Close your eyes child, and breath deeply." He said in a soothing voice.

  "I will open your eyes to the gifts of the gods. Stay still, and think about who you are. Think about your life to this point. What forces have shaped you? Think about your pce in this world of ours."

  Slowly, behind her closed eyes. Words and letters began to form.

  Aurelia

  Race: Seraphim

  Level: 1

  Health: 120 / 120

  Mana: 60 / 60

  Attributes

  Strength: 12

  Dexterity: 10

  Agility: 11

  Vitality: 12

  Resilience: 10

  Endurance: 13

  Will: 8

  Focus: 4

  Crity: 7

  Attunement: 6

  Presence: 5

  Resolve: 8

  Aurelia couldn't make much sense of what she was seeing, but resolved to remember as much as she could. She'd never heard of Seraphim as a race, she'd always assumed she'd been some obscure kind of bird beastwoman, she resolved to see if she couldn't find answers about her race.

  She knew about Strength, and Agility, but most people didn't like talking about their attributes, so Aurelia only had a vague idea as to what most of them meant exactly.

  "Can you see it, my dear?" the Priest asked her.

  She nodded, keeping her eyes closed.

  "Good, good. Are you ready to receive your first boon?"

  She nodded again, she'd memorized as much as she could.

  What came next was different, where before small parts floated through her vision and slowly came together to form a cohesive whole. This time the message appeared in her vision suddenly, fully formed.

  Level One Achievedselect a boon below

  Minor ForagingPassive

  Collect more pnts, herbs, and small game when foraging

  Fertility ControlPassive

  Control one's own fertility at will

  Strike TruePassive

  Attacks are more likely to strike vulnerable areas

  Aurelia didn't know what to pick. She had spent most of her life foraging, and with her future uncertain, it'd be a way to live if all else failed. Fertility control could be incredibly useful, she hadn't had anyone to "engage" in sexual activities with, but this would mean she didn't have to spend money on infertility potions if something did happen. Though it did seem fairly specific, and not useful outside of having sex.

  The third option tempted her, it was everything she could have hoped for in a first boon, but now was the moment. Did she want to take the safe option? To take a mentor, and find a husband who could provide for her. It was the easy choice, the obvious choice. Certainly the most common for young women leaving the care of the temple.

  She decided to grasp destiny with both hands, and made her decision.