Most sources report the Legate as being part of an inconsequential tribe conquered by Caesar. When Caesar's Legion earned definitive victory against his tribe, he slew the tribe elders for sounding the retreat. He bursts into a fit of rage, killing the members of his tribe who he deems "cowardly". When he awakens from his fugue, half of his face is torn off, and he is presented with a mask from Caesar, with a request that he join the Legion. The rest is history.

However, other sources indicate that Lanius has been a member of the Legion for far longer than we previously thought. There are even some Legionaries that report him being promoted to "Full Legionary" at the age of 12. Really? The same man who single-handedly fought off the Legion when his tribe was under attack - a mere boy of 12? It's not entirely implausible, but it's highly unlikely that both of these stories are canon. So, what do you think? Was Lanius a pre-pubascent army of one, or did the writers just get confused?

Thread subtitle: "SPOILERS"

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/forum/108-fallout-new-vegas-cheats-hints-and-spoilers/

Where's my head - Mods, could you move this please?

My guess for the in-universe explanation? The first account is more accurate, the second is the 'legend of the man' and isn't intended to be the actual truth.

Chances are the first account was actually true, while a legend came about amongst the troops (the second account). Who knows, maybe the first was a legend and the second was true, but I doubt a 12 year old could do what took the NCR dozens of well trained and equipped troops to do (if not hundreds).

The first sounds like the more legitimate explanation of Lanius' origins. The second comes off as hearsay among Legionaires. Because, let's face it ... Would you get personal with the man/myth/legend who eats bullets for breakfast? I think not. :nono:

Well, I'd say the biggest problem with the first story is that Lanius' face is perfectly fine.

It's possible that he was a crazy mofo at twelve when he killed his tribe and was inducted into the legion. It's also possible that Lanius has never seen his face, and he himself believes his face is mangled, when in actuality Caesar chose to have him masked so he would appear fearsome and inhuman to both his subordinates and his enemies.

I've never heard the second story you mentioned.

His was the oldest in the tribe. The rest of the little runts were ages 4-9