If there's one thing video games have gotten much better at during the years, it would be storytelling. We can often find rich narratives woven into our interactive adventures and Crytek's upcoming Xbox One-exclusive title, Ryse: Son of Rome, seeks to be no different.

A post on the Xbox News Wire features details about Ryse's story that were recently revealed during a panel at San Diego Comic Con 2013. On hand to speak were Cinematics Director Peter Gornstein, and Producers Michael Read and Justin Robey.

In Ryse, you play as a young Roman solider named Marius Titus who is out to avenge the murder of his family. He's out for the blood of the barbarian bandits that were responsible for his deaths, and his vengeance-fueled quest will take him to Britannia and into Rome.

We also learned a new digital, interactive graphic novel called 'Ryse: Sword of Damocles' is available online now for your perusal, but clicking on the link only leads back to the blog.

The following is a list of short biographies for the characters in Ryse, as they were given during the SDCC panel:

  • Marius. The hero of “Ryse: Son of Rome,” Marius is a young soldier with a strong sense of duty who is completely dedicated to Rome and her ideals. Initially eager to fight against Rome’s enemies and expand the Empire, he soon realizes that Rome is vulnerable to an even more insidious threat than the barbarians he faces on the battlefield.  Ever loyal to Rome, he resolves to rid the Empire of her true enemies.
  • Vitallion. A wise and charismatic general who has served Rome for decades, Vitallion has fought in many campaigns and serves as a mentor to Marius. As events transpire he begins to wonder if duty has its limits, and whether self-restraint is always the correct course of action.
  • Nero. Nero, Emperor of Rome, struggles to maintain his grip on power. He promotes his two sons Commodus and Basillius to powerful positions, letting them take control of the rebellious province of Britannia. Nero feels threaten by all potential rivals and exacts ruthless retribution against anyone who crosses him.
  • Commodus and Basillius. As governor of Britannia, Nero’s eldest son, Commodus, sees himself as a god, and the people of Britannia as his subjects. His reign is characterized by brutal repression. Nero’s youngest son, Basillius, enjoys anything carnal or cruel. At the Colosseum he delights in watching gladiators kill each other, and lords over the terrified slaves he keeps in his harem in the bowels of the structure.
  • Boudica. The daughter of King Oswald, the ruler of the Britons. Strong and resilient, Boudica hates Rome, and with good reason: under Roman rule, her people are made to suffer horribly. When her father faces horrific retribution from a perceived insult, it galvanizes Boudica and she rallies her people to rise against their oppressors. Boudica is a principled woman and has the will to go to the ends of the world to save her people.
  • Oswald. Benevolent king of the Britons. He leads a rebellion against the tyrannical rule of Rome, but when the Romans brutally repress the rebels, Oswald submits to Roman dominance in hopes this will spare his people. His naivety leaves him vulnerable to the Romans.
  • Glott. Enigmatic leader of the Northern barbarians, rumored to be more beast than man. Very little is known about him except that he is fiercely independent and will make war on both the Romans and Oswald’s tribe.
  • The Spirit Gods.  Immortal spirit, one who watches over humanity, guides Marius. She appears in mortal form, but radiates an otherworldly aura. Another (known in mortal form as Aquilo) seeks the destruction of Rome and allies himself with her enemies.
Let us know your thoughts on Ryse's story and whether or not you'll be itching to help Marius get revenge when the game is released on Xbox One later this year.

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