The Londinium Mithraeum

Type
Locations: religious location: temple.

Description
The London Mithraeum (also known as the Temple of Mithras) is a Roman Mithraic temple discovered in Walbrook Street in 1954 during the construction of a building.

When it was originally built the temple would have stood on the east bank of the now covered-over River Walbrook, a key freshwater source in Roman Londinium. In its former streambed nearby a small square hammered lead sheet was found, on which an enemy of someone named Martia Martina had inscribed her name backwards (throwing the token into the stream in a traditional Celtic way of reaching the gods that has preserved metal tokens in rivers throughout Celtic Europe, from the swords at La Tène to Roman times).

The temple foundations are very close to other important sites in London including the historic Bank of England and London Wall. The original Mithraeum was built partly underground, recalling the cave of Mithras where the Mithraic epiphany took place. Among the sculptures the archaeologists found was a head of Mithras himself — recognizable by his Phrygian cap.

Location
City of Londinium.

Pre-War History
The Temple of Mithras stood as an open air museum for people to see and did not have anything special other than its archaeological history for many years up until the year 2073. This is where the ‘Brotherhood of Mithras’ began their life as a children's role play group that named themselves after the Mithraeum in the year 2073. The intentions were pure — as a form of escapism from the tribulations London was suffering from the children would sneak into the ruins late at night after curfew and play roleplaying games. This playful behaviour went on for many years and was passed down from its founding members to their children, each of which carved their names into a stone of the Mithraeum itself and stored their gaming materials in a secret compartment built into the ruins.

In 2074 the children were caught during a gaming session whilst outside of the hours of curfew prompting swift capital action that resulted in each of their deaths. This led to huge protests and demonstrations that would go on to cause several more casualties after which the issue was dropped and the families mourned in private, leaving the odd note around the Mithraeum and nothing more.

Post-War History
A lone wanderer named James Rogers discovered the Mithraeum, the signs of mourning, as well as the children's writings on the wall leading to the discovery of the old roleplaying game materials. Confused by what he had read, James assumed he had discovered the workings of a once great religion. Impressed by the stories he devoted the rest of his life to the god Mithras, rechristening himself as King Ahura Mazda (the name of the father of Mithras).

King Ahura Mazda would go on to recruit more members into his cult and convert rival cults. Though originally through peaceful means, by the year 2224 he turned to hostile conversion.

The Brotherhood of Mithras
The Brotherhood of Mithras has an interest in ancient relics that they can use to increase their power. As a result their members are often found in the darkest corners of London.

Just as the Vagabonds have Razor the Brotherhood has Brother Xyz, a corrupt Protection Romanologist stolen from the British Museum and reprogrammed.

King Ahura Mazda surrounds himself with a small council of elders, each of which is a differently skilled melee combatant specializing in their own approach to fighting.

In order for the player to gain entrance to the Mithraeum and confront the Occultists, the player has to follow the trail from borough to borough, tracking down leads on each of the principal members of the brotherhood.

When the player’s research is complete they follow the children's roleplaying game guides which eventually lead them to the Mithraeum where they finally learn the truth behind the cult.