Editing Shields of Mars

{{Era|Organizations}}
{{Pre-release|[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]}}
The '''Shields of Mars'''  were a secretive group of guardians founded by [[Romulus]], the first [[Roman Kingdom|king]] of [[Rome]], acting in remorse after murdering his brother, [[Remus]]. Inspired by him, Romulus made the traits he admired in his brother part of the principles that led the group: as in life Remus had an undisciplined spirit, constantly challenging the status quo and questioning authority with deep sense of justice and a burning desire for equality, so would be the Shields of Mars.<ref name="Wolves">''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]] – [[Forging History]]'' – [[Of Wolves and Men]]</ref> In that manner, the group shared many principles with the Assassin Brotherhood.<ref name="Hook">''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]] – [[Legacy of the Brotherhood]]'' – Adventure Hooks: Ezio Auditore #2</ref>

==History==
In 717 BCE, king Romulus rested with members of the Shields of Mars at his [[Domus Regia|residence]], when a [[Naevia|woman]] burst in to warn them of a plot to [[Assassination|assassinate]] Romulus that had been concocted by an [[Thresu|Etruscan priest]] from a larger [[Cult of Uni|unknown group]] that managed to persuade {{Wiki|Senate of the Roman Kingdom|senators}}, ''pater familias'', and militia captains. Prompted into action, the Shield of Mars reached the [[Temple of Laran]], spotting men and women in fine clothes and bronze masks, each accompanied by personal [[Soldier|guards]]. The group infiltrated the temple and collected information about the traitors and their plan, before killing the mastermind during their ritual, hoping the superstitious Romans might perceive it as a bad omen.<ref name="Conspiracy">''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]] – [[Forging History]]'' – [[The First Conspiracy]]</ref>

With the Shields of Mars having killed the priest,<ref name="Conspiracy">''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]] – [[Forging History]]'' – [[The First Conspiracy]]</ref> Romulus decided to go ahead with the speech. The following day, at the Palus Caprae of the Campus Martius, Romulus addressed his troops until he was cut off by a violent storm that led most present to scatter for cover and for the traitors to attempt to kill the king. Aided by the Shields of Mars once again, Romulus escaped towards the Temple of Laran, intending to hide his [[Excalibur|sword]] in the very same underground chamber he received it in. Using the pommel of the sword to open a secret door, Romulus led the group to the [[Temple (Isu)|vault]] beneath the temple, where they were attacked by a [[Werewolf|Versipellis]], a 10 feet tall [[wolf]] man with superhuman strength. Though a formidable adversary, the Versipellis was defeated and, in his final moments, he returned to reason and rejected the [[Prize of the Versipellis|gift]] given to him by [[Mars (deity)|Mars]], reverting into his original form of [[Remus]]. The Shields of Mars then picked up his body and set him on the altar at the center of the chamber, placing the Sword of Eden in his arms.<ref name="Wolves">''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]] – [[Forging History]]'' – [[Of Wolves and Men]]</ref> After the events beneath the temple, Romulus disappeared, instructing his followers to act in secret to defend free will.<ref name="Timeline">''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]] – [[Animus Handbook]]'' – Key Events Overview</ref>

During the [[Renaissance]], members of the [[Italian Brotherhood of Assassins|Italian Brotherhood]] located and explored a sanctuary belonging to the Shields of Mars in the Roman countryside.<ref name="Hook"/>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game]]''

==References==
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[[Category:Organizations]]