I’ll be honest: our resident crime lord-turned-Tribune Ceto Verus didn’t interest much. In the planetary ocean that is Julia’s fanbase, and the subsequent smaller seas of Antoninus and Darius enjoyers, Consentia and Ceto islets are few and sparse. I doubt I need to go into much detail as to why the aforementioned characters enjoy such popularity to the detriment of the latter two. I will simply surmise a more complex discussion to the aphorism “they are bland”. (Also I’m a certified Julia follower and an Antoninus supporter so I’m biased)
Nonetheless, upon actively trying to get more Ceto and Consentia “lore” in-game, I found myself, if not captivated, intrigued by the characters. I will attempt to give them their due credit, starting with Ceto.
If one reflects upon Ceto’s story, it is quite impressive. Born into poverty in Kyro, she eventually managed to become the most powerful anti-social element in the empire (aka she became the greatest crime lord). So powerful she became, that even the unofficial leader of the Senate and richest not-purple-wearing person Consentia had need of Ceto’s resources, namely the people of Kyro and the illegal activities her gang undertook.
Even though Consentia characterises her partner as of “lower cunning”(great roast btw) and a piece on her board, it seems to me quite clear that Ceto has her own agenda. It is highly unlikely that after having accrued such power in Kyro through illicit means she would just, if not relinquish, at least neglect her powerbase in favour of the more prestigious-but-definitely-less-powerful office of Tribune, without looking farther afield.
Now, after laying the situation like that, why would she diminish her hard-gained position for a place in the Iudian establishment? I have two theories.
First, and the most obvious, is that she saw her criminal empire under threat by two enemies: first, the rival gangs of the Flavians and Slaga, and second the capital’s Watch, aka the police. It could be that she saw that she couldn’t handle the two-pronged attack through her own gang, the Verans, and so made an alliance of convenience with the Consul so she could receive political backing and a say in the decision-making with regards to the aforementioned threats. Hence, Consentia would help her through authorised means, and Ceto would give the Senator the support of Kyro’s plebeians that the Consul requires.
Second theory is a little less proof-based, but far more compelling story-wise and hence my main theory. What if Ceto is truly a populist? She could very well be, or consider herself, the champion of the (rather) voiceless masses against the tyranny of the Empress and the Senate. She has, after all, grown up in the lowest of the low slums in Kyro, where she experienced the ugly sides of Iudia that the rulling class doesn’t wish to acknowledge, modify or even touch. Consentia might talk about the “Plebeians” and the “Senate” as two founding stones of the Republic, but it is quite clear which rock is higher on the pyramid. It is perhaps resentment or at least dissatisfaction that she developed towards the latter, and from it sprang forth a desire to turn the tables in favour of the common citizenry.
As such, the only place where she could see the change she desires materialise would be in political office. Why she neglects her criminal empire, pursues an alliance with the most powerful of Senators and seeks a place at the Empresses’s Council (and so obtains her ear) would make a little more sense. In fact, it is not that “she fights for people’s rights” as a facade to further accrue power, but she actually fights for people’s rights in full honesty.
I truly don’t know how far she sees this “people’s rights” concept going. I really doubt she envisions something like the Athenian demokratia, which would of course entail the elimination of the office of Empress. But still, I would see her asking for a fairer share, and voice, in the system for your everyday woman (maybe also man?) in the Empire. Or, perhaps, she could go even farther in her demands, but this is something that we lack necessary information to ascertain.
Long story short, Ceto is actually an interesting character. Colour me surprised — in purple, preferably.
