Start a new game (Celt or Roman - this apparently works for both). Delete the first character, customize the rest however you like, then begin. Once you get to the map, before moving or anything, create a new character. Have him trade places with someone else, then delete him. Now, take one step in any direction, and you'll be warped to the far northwest corner of town. While this lets you avoid receiving your first mission, it's probably not actually useful. Just a very strange glitch.
Edit: On further investigation, it seems as though the bug is triggered any time you create a new character in the first slot and then take a step. Hmm.