Gaius Cassius Longinus
At Diana's side is Gaius Cassius Longinus, a sorcerer who appears to be around thirty years old but is in fact four hundred. The Roman Centurion whose spear killed Christ on the cross, he was cursed for his sin with immortality, and he has travelled to the island in search of that same weapon, the Spear of Destiny, which he believes is buried somewhere on those shores, and may grant him his only release from eternal life. He appears at times as a young man, but occassionally drops that facade, and is revealed in his true form: a wrinkled old man, almost a reptilian creature. Besides searching for the spear, Longinus' one goal in life seems to be to please Diana. Every new weapon he presents, with his ability to see the future, is given as a gift to Diana. He apparently has no wish to conquer the island, and is more indifferent about it; but despite his wish to please, he has had his disagreements with her. Far from being a two-dimensional, pure-evil sort of villian, Longinus presents layers of intrigue; the episode "Spear of Destiny" will give us a glimpse of Longinus' past and family.
Queen Diana Metellus
A Roman Queen, Diana is bent on conquering the island, not only for herself, but for her love, Longinus. Though she is at times shady, and very unpredictable with vague motives, she is a woman who knows exactly what she wants, and usually how to get it. She also has a propensity to pop up in just the right place at the right time to catch Conor and his band unawares. Deceitful and cunning, Diana is a worth opponent to an island-full of Celts, but her own past is not exactly clean. In Red Boot, Pasolinus gives this rundown of Diana's rise to power: "Ambitious beauty from Thrace, travels to Rome, quick study, quick tongue. Uses her talents the best way she knows, finds work in a brothel. Climbs that ladder, such as it is, until she is the queen . . . of whores." Diana still puts to good use the skills she learned in that brothel, often using her body to elicit loyalty and favors.
Back to ROAR