Everything is done by typing. Choose a private login name and a password when you first arrive, then make your own character or take up a historical figure from the roster. The full guide, area by area, is on the Guide page.
look
see where you are; look rostra to look closely at something
errands
start here: Gaius the Herald has three small errands for you each day, for a little money and good name
ambitions
choose a path (power, wealth, glory, faith, intrigue, company) and follow its steps to an honour, a surname and a statue
write, letters, read
send letters that wait for people who are away; the great of Rome may write to you with a commission
emperor, petition emperor, acclaim
few may speak to Caesar, but anyone may petition him; cheer him when he passes in procession, and soldiers may catch his eye on parade
wield, wear, styles, learn
fight with the arms you hold: light and quick, medium and versatile, or heavy and armoured; learn a style from a trainer and grow in it by fighting
attack, block, charge, tactic
in a fight, your move each round: strike; raise your shield (it turns blows and strikes back); or draw back for a charge that breaks a shield. Or let your tactic choose
assist, target, hide, ambush
join a brawl beside a friend and pick your enemy; slip out of sight and fall on someone unawares. The quick cut off a fleeing enemy best; more of you, the harder it is to escape
check, contest
roll openly for roleplay: check strength vs hard to lift the cart, or contest charm vs Portia, and she chooses how to resist. The dice advise; you play the result
ooc, channels
talk out of character across the game; nobles, plebs, soldiers, traders and holy have their own channels. "channel all off" for quiet
n s e w, in, out
walk the city, and go into buildings (or click an exit)
map, map here
the map of Rome, with you on it and what is happening; or open Map at the top and tap a place to walk there
follow, unfollow
go about as a group: follow Adam and you go where Adam goes; unfollow to stop
relationship
note what your character makes of someone: relationship Adam my officer, who picks his nose at drill. Private to you and the staff, and worth social points
sheet
everything about your character on one page
guide me to people
walk to the nearest company; or guide me to any place, person or thing
pose, rpemit
set the scene: pose leans on a column, watching the crowd (until you move); rpemit The room smells of herbs and oils. (signed with your name)
say, tell, whisper
speak to the room; to one person in front of the room (tell Livia the Senate meets at dawn); or quietly to one person. Talk with other players earns social points
decisions
everything waiting on your answer in one list: deals, challenges, omens, invitations, votes, the work of your office
tasks
what you can do now, how long until the rest, and what is waiting on your answer
ask gaius what news?
talk to the people of Rome
work, status
earn your wage every 12 hours (the docks, the courts and the markets pay plebeians more); see what you have
train, spar, bout, patrol, sentry
gladiators train at the Ludus and fight bouts in the arena; soldiers drill, patrol the lawless streets at night and stand sentry by day, paid by the Senate
danger
how dangerous each area of Rome is, 0 to 10: the higher, the more bandits at night
roles, bid
buy a seat: aedile, senator, legate, even consul
where, seeking
find others to play with, and say what you are looking for
orate, scheme
sway the crowd from the Rostra; stake money on a plot
event, goods, sell
see what is stirring the city; sell at a market. In a rush goods cost more to buy too: only stock laid in beforehand turns a profit
gods, pray, temple
honour the gods, best in their temples; win a head priest's trust and ask to serve (temple seek); priests answer prayers with cast
attributes, fate
your gifts, which ripen and fade with age and grow with use; your years and forebears
switch, roster
go back to your characters; take up a historical figure for social points
chronicle
what has come to pass in Rome, and what the historians say lies ahead
lore
the history of Rome under Hadrian, to build your character's story on; or read the Lore page
promotion
soldiers: your rank and the way up the ladder, from legionary to Praetorian Prefect
holdings, household
your family's land and state, settled on the Kalends each week; "oversee" for influence
patron, salute
find a patron and greet them at dawn for the sportula; "order" shows your class
bug, idea, typo
found something broken, or have an idea? Tell us: bug the baker took my money. It is an alpha, and your reports shape the game