The Imperium Game — K.D. Wentworth

DEUS EX MACHINA

Slaves, an Underworld, and gods who walked the earth -- the Roman city that housed the Imperium Game was authentic from top to bottom. Of course the players knew it was all run by computers -- but after years of role-playing, most had put that pesky little detail out of their minds. Now, though, not only the players had lost track of reality: the deity programs had mysteriously, begun to exceed their parameters. And the reigning Emperor had been murdered -- for real.

The prime murder suspect was Kerickson, the Game's main programmer, whose ex-wife had left him for the role of Empress. Fired from his job, pursued by a policeman convinced of his guilt, the hapless Kerickson sneaked into the Game
to find the real murderer.

As the gods ran rampant, the Game turned more violent and chaotic every day. And now, as a lowly gladiator trainee, Kerickson had no access to his beloved control room. All he had was the unwelcome aid of Minerva, the mouse-munching owl who was the Goddess of Wisdom -- if only she were programmed correctly. But Minerva had more bugs than Cerberus had teeth...