So far I have some vague ideas and Snowflake is helping me focus in on my story. It's a historical fiction with biblical/spiritual overtones. As I mentioned, I'm working on the premise of "Jump in and untangle later". Still, if anyone would like to point out blatant flaws or discrepencies while still in the planning stages, I would very much appreciate it.

Here is my paragraph summary, which should be under 13 lines:

Marcus, a Roman soldier, gives up his sword and attempts to convert after witnessing the death of Christ. He wants to live righteously, but realizes he doesn't know what that means. The disciples won't teach a Gentile, but can Marcus overcome his prejudice and learn scripture from a woman? Marcus must survive assassination attempts and religious persecution to realize his dream of preaching God's Word. After losing all his earthly treasures in the burning of Rome, Marcus retires to Pompeii - with the church's blessing - to start a new church.
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The plot is still a bit fuzzy to me, but I'm primarily focusing on the characters at the moment. I'm hoping some folks might be willing to check out my 'Steps 3 & 4' and give some feedback. I'm keeping all of my nano prep on my blog, so if you're willing to look it over the link is here: This Path. They should be the last two posts, but here are the links for anyone interested: Step 3: Characters and Step 4: Expanded Paragraph Summary

Maybe there could be a moment between Marcus and a pre-conversion Saul of Tarsis, (a tentmaker student of law under the famous Gamaliel), who hates Christians but, after his miraculous conversion, is the very man who argues for the preaching of Christianity to the gentiles. It could lead to some nice circular stuff happening in the plot.

Now I forgot your question.

Edit:
Okay, I just re-read your post.

I would think Marcus might have some association with or knowledge of the Centurion Cornelius, perhaps even working with him. I think the link will be something people will wonder about if it is not at least mentioned.

But it might highlight a flaw in your plot as I understand it. The significance of Cornelius was that he was the first gentile baptised who had not previously been a proselyte to Judaism. In other words, all it would take for Marcus to become a Christian is for him to first become a Jew, thus getting around the 'don't preach to gentiles' rule. If Marcus, desires Christian fellowship enough then conversion would not be so hard. There has to be another barrier for that part of the plot to work in my opinion.

PS: We know there were proselytes in the early church and some of them gained great standing. To become a proselyte you had to be circumcised, baptised, offer sacrifice and thereafter observe the whole Mosaic law.

Men called 'devout gentiles' could be found in most synagogues. There were many and they were considered outsiders usually because they refused to participate in some aspect or other of the law.

I guess what I am saying is if Marcus found himself in with the 'devout gentiles' group, he would not be lonely.

So he must want full fellowship and to have it denied must mean that he has some barrier other than the ' no gentiles' rule.

Having said all that I am, for some reason, reminded of this law from Deut 23:

He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.

Certainly Marcus could never hide something like that from him who performs the circumcision...

This may or may not matter but will if you intend to have Marcus witness both the Crucifixion AND the eruption of Vesuvius.

The gentiles were officially allowed in without being first proselytised to Judaism about 45-50AD. (I am not sure so will look into it). Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 some 46 years after the crucifixion. To join the Roman army you had to be at least 18 years-old. That makes Marcus a minimum of 33-38 at the time the teaching of the gentiles was embraced by the church and a minimum of 64 at the time of the eruption.

This may all be well within the scope of the story. Just knowing he was going to Pompeii to set-up a church would be enough for me, even if it was 20 or 30 years before the mountain blew. I would be like, 'No! Go some place else!'

I was estimating that Marcus was probably about 20 at the time of the crucifixion, leaving him somewhere in his 60s for Vesuvius. I'm not actually sure if the novel will go all the way to the actual eruption, though. To be honest, I'm not even sure if I'll send him there, but I was trying to get something for an ending, since I usually never have even a vague idea of where I'm headed.

His scenaro could also set up some interest dynamics with his father, the high ranking official. Does his father simply let him go or is he outraged by the besmurchment of the family name and even though the rest of the army has given up pursuit, does he continue chase?

Also, does the main character have a wife? Kids? If so, what are their thoughts on his defection and conversion to Christianity? How does the general public treat them after he has left to follow Christ? Perhaps they are black-marked and his wife will not feel vindicated until she sees him dead, thus the assassins come into play.

Your plot has some amazing possiblities to create action as well as ethical delemias which will make this an extremely powerful story.

I don't think desertion would be the most likely course for this man. Especially considering people like Cornelius the Centurion (Commander of 80) could be considered a devout man.