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'''Marius Decimus Silius – Consul to High Reaches'''

Sometimes excellence is so pronounced, it simply cannot be eclipsed. Such is the case with Marius. Every year hundreds of hopeful young men flood the capital, hoping to find employment with one of the noble houses or perhaps even in government offices responsible for bringing law and order to [[the Halmorian Empire|the Empire]]. Likewise, year after year, many young men are turned away as being underqualified or not having sufficient sponsorship. Marius was such a candidate. While exceptionally bright, Marius had no patronage. Yet, in his interviews and in his trials, he consistently excelled. Turned away by all those he had hoped to work for, he was approached by [[Lucius Marcus Gaius Flaccus|Lucius Flaccus]]. 

Lucius, having seen the boy excel time and again, offered to employ him as his own personal clerk. The pay would not be much, but he would work side-by-side with Lucius on all matters of state. This mutually beneficial arrangement was excitedly entered into by Marius. For 3 years he worked with Lucius, learning all there was to know about the intricacies of politics and how best to manipulate any situation to better serve the Empire. When Lucius was appointed Ambassador, Marius expected to continue on as Lucius’ clerk. Lucius had other plans though, and surprised him by naming him Consul to [[High Reaches]]. Brilliant beyond compare to anyone once his peer, Marius, at the age of only 25, knew nearly as much about politics and playing the game as Lucius did. Marius was essentially, Lucius’ protégé, and Lucius was only too happy to reward Marius’ excellence with the posting. This had the added benefit for Lucius of putting the most capable and cunning mind he could conceive of (outside his own) on the spot in High Reaches, the “true seat of power” on [[Eramere]].