This really should be titled Building a Fantasy World, but using World would bring that ’…… Building’ phrase to mind. If I identify with any of my characters, it’s the grumpy old general Marius. I set my Historical Fantasy in the classical world, and then then played fast and loose with the Historical part. But even with my many transgressions most readers will immediately recognize the setting and attitudes (or they should if they paid attention to middle school history or at least watched that brilliant series with the R in the title). It’s a brutal world of right makes right, class ridden, very misogynistic (probably due to might makes right), but still one with the benefit of philosophy and a knowledge of history. 

Unlike much contemporary fantasy, where characters have a very modern outlook, I have attempted to fix my characters in time and place. Alexander the Great is still the ideal men strive for – that boils down to if you command a superior army you should try to conquer half the known world (I know people go on about Alex merging two cultures, but the Persians were already merging a lot more than two – including the Greek cities in Asia Minor). My characters make no apologies for their martial outlook – as Marcus notes charging into battle is not bravery, its just instinct and training. The book also keeps the fighting realistic – no flamboyant Ninjas (I do like the Hollywood productions where our hero blocks a slash at his back by putting his sword behind his own back – I dare you to try that in real life – use wooden swords!), if a 100-pound girl gets smashed by a warrior’s shield she doesn’t bounce back up. The products of the Legion’s orphanage are extremely efficient killers – direct, no flash, and quick going about their deadly business. 

It’s also not an Epic Fantasy of good versus evil. No evil overlord out to plunge the world into darkness. There isn’t much difference in what Attila tries to accomplish versus what the Emperor unleashes. I have protagonists (one of which is an assassin that has better morals than Septimus) and antagonists. Some characters are just nastier than others (well Drucilla is evil, but she doesn’t think she is). True to the classical setting, the world also has strong class divisions. People don’t move easily up in class and when they do there is always resentment. Another characteristic is loyalty to one’s group – even if my protagonists are not particularly loyal to the people running the Empire their loyalty to the Empire itself is never in question. They live in an age where traitors are the lowest of the low. 

Another trope I have avoided is the Hero’s Tale. My characters are not struggling to master some hidden power – they know their strengths. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t survive for long. Even awkward teenager Akos, who gets flustered talking to pretty girls, never hesitates in doing what needs to be done. 

Finally, magic itself. Most magic is practical – healing, tossing projectiles from war machines further than expected, protecting war machines from said projectiles, detecting untruths. Even so, given human nature (the one constant throughout history being human nature, Thucydides again), most practitioners of magic are held in suspicion or even fear. Of course, the story has a couple of Mages whose power is far greater than merely practical.  

I also have Dwarves. I needed a ‘tribe’ of a down on their luck but capable people that Marcus could make promises to. I also wanted to restore them to their rightful place (they all have Old Norse names – and no Scottish accents). The Anemoi (I think I found some reference to winged women somewhere for the name – can’t find it anymore) came to me while watching a show during covid (you know the one – show not covid). I needed a tactical advantage for my besieged Legion and they fit the bill. The incorporation of Mithradaes and Akos came later. My final confession is that everyone should recognize my inspiration for Drucilla. I watched I Claudius at an impressionable age (what were my parents thinking?). Livia was my favorite character – I was well into my book before I found out the Empress’ full name was Livia Drucilla. 

The last trait I wanted to give the denizens of my magical empire was a sense of humor. If you are going to be on campaign for close to a decade you either become a dead eyed killer or someone who can see the absurdity of it all. Hopefully I pulled it off. I think it makes the interactions between characters much more believable.