Comes Britanniae

[Pontifex Maximus]

LVGUVALIVM, BRITTANIA

Comes Brittainia: Valerius Crescens Fulvianus

Valerius Crescens Fulvianus

Character Name:Valerius Crescens Fulvianus Age: 48 Ethnicity: Romano-British Religion: Nicene Christianity (-1 to rolls for unrest) Rank: TBD Marital Status: Married to Crispina (Arianist) (42) Children: 3 children - Numerias Crescens Fulvianus (18) - Esquilina (16) - Flavius Crescens Fulvianus Traits (6 points): +2 Battle, +2 Wealth (10%), +2 Auctoritas, Personality: Sanguine: - Confident: +1 battle rolls, +1 to rout rolls against this character. - Sociable: +1 Charisma, -2% income. Phlegmatic: - Empathic: +2 Charisma, -1 to battle/joust/duel rolls.

Economics

Diocesis Britanniae: Incomes Valentia: 10,000 Britannia I: 15,000 Britannia II: 15,000 Flavia Caesariensis: 15,000 Maxima Caesariensis: 20,000 Total: 75,000 Expenses Legionary Upkeep: tbd

Military

Palatinae: Victores Iuniores Comitatenses: Britones Seniores Secundani Iuniores Limitanii: 16x limitanei legions in Valentia - forts along Hadrian's Wall 9x limitanei legions in Maxima Caesariensis - the Saxon Shore forts

[Pontifex Maximus]

It took some time for Valerius Crescens Fulvianus to fully recover from a fever that he had contracted on the way back to Britannia. The crossing had been wet and a chill had sunk in at first. By the time the party had reach Londinium, the fat Fulvianus was shaking almost uncontrollably. Still, through the skills of his personal medicus, he was on the mend and out of danger. By the time the Comes had ventured out of bed, the various junior officers of the region had gathered to him. Representatives of all the major commands from Deva, Eburacum, the wall, and the east coast shore defenses. There were still vacancies in junior offices, he would need two duces under him to help command the other two vital fronts. He was a man spread thin for now, almost as thin as his hair. Maybe his wife was right, maybe he should finally shave it completely off. Maybe it would look more dignified. After Mass, the officers gathered in a villa above the Abos river. It was a swift flowing river even in this area of relative urban development.

Fulvianus gave the usual account of THeodosius' acclamation and the events surrounding his own promotion. Well fabricated and well rehearsed, all the better to impress the men who would sevre under him. Many were already known to him through his service in the rank and file, mainly along the northern border. He had spent the last twenty years in Britain, rising high enough in the ranks to serve as an overall legionary commander, and then as the commander on the spot in Deva for a short year before joining the Persian campaign as quartermaster. It had been an eventful two years, but he was glad to be back in Britannia. This time he would answer to no man on the island. It was good, he was quitebored of taking orders. "Alright men, what have you to report?"

[Dirty Chai]

The villa was an extensive cut-away at a forest north of Eboracum in the valley of the Brigantes. Eboracum was a small outpost to a man who'd seen any part of the rest of the world, but here in Britannia.. it was a fortress and center of authority. Here it was that Constantine's soldiers first acclaimed him Augustus after the death of his father.

The men who gathered before the new Comes Britanniae were a few tribuni from the comitatenses, a handful of praefecti from the wall forts, and few praepositi - leaders of milites and local tribal socii from within the province. One man in particular, an aging officer in charge of the northwestern coast from Derventio and Luguvalium, speaks up first.

"Comes, the Scotti continue to raid the western shores, between Deva and the wall. This is no news to you, though. We have many forts and watch posts along the shores south of the wall, and so there is only so much to be done for the fisher folk there. The comes littoris Saxonici will tell you that there is new activity in the southeast from sailors and traders from Germania - more than usual. A villa north of Venta was burnt down a month back."

Another man continues for him.

"Between the walls, our agents say the Votadini are in the midst of a long conflict with Picts from beyond the Antonine wall. The Selgovae and Novantae are quiet, but the Damnonii are sending our agents some strange messages."

[Trot]

Gaius stood near Valerius dressed once again in military regalia. The young man listened to the report and wondered exactly what his assignment would be.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Fulvianus drummed his fingers on the table. He was staring at the map of Britannia, noting each location mentioned in the reports. As his eyes flicked across the skin of the map, he gave a short laugh. "A steady rain falls over Britannia." They were coming from all sides now, but he had already ranked the incursions in order of their greatest threat. The north would need to be defended at all costs. The Picts and their other neighbors, notably these Damnonii, were waging a war of conquest that must be arrested and snuffed out every time a spark kindles it. "Gaius, you will serve as Dux Brittaniarum" He said after a long pause. "You will be responsible for the defense of the Saxon shore. If funds can be secured, we will raise a fleet next summer to deal with these pirates before they reach the shore. Once they realize peril may find them at sea before they even reach shore, they might think twice before coming back next time. Let them try their luck in Gaul for all I care." That would be a certain death trap for them.

He turned to the rest of the officers. "I will personally lead our forces from Luguvalium. The Victores Iuniores and Secundi Iuniores will accompany me. The Britones Seniores will remain in Maxima Caesarensis. We must investigate the northern threat further and crush it the moment it materializes, if it does. We cannot afford a breach in the northern defenses above all else. Now, as for the west, it is of less concern. We shall maintain a strong garrison in Deva. We are not abandoning this defense, merely delaying it. Once the other frontiers have quieted, we will address this threat. In the meantime, I will send envoys to the Scotti. Perhaps they can be bribed to cease their activities for the time being. "

He rapped his knuckles against the table, confident in the plan. Soon he would be back in the same forts he served in as a young man, it was familiar territory to him. The stakes were higher now, so much higher. If he failed in his task, his career would be at an end and possibly his life. Emperors rarely tolerated incompetent subordinates these days and he knew he could be easily replaced. He would have to cede no ground and either by power, or power of persuasion, keep the barbarians outside Roman Britain. He reflected upon the nature of their foe, retreating into the depths of his dimmest memories, of night spent huddled around a brazier to evenings spent dicing with other soldiers, tos standing guard and watching them file in every morning to sell their goods in the markets. The Northern barbarians still practiced a form of ancient worship described by earlier Romans in great detail, dating all the way back to the conquest of Gaul Although he was a tolerant man, he had grown hateful towards those blue painted fanatics. Then there were the seafaring German pirates, whose gods were mixed as well. Woden, Freyja, and others whose names he did not care to remember. Some of them proclaimed to be Christian, but they were just as ignorant of the faith as they were of...farming.

He snapped himself back from this reverie in time to askthe men if he had been understood. "Are there any questions?"

[Trot]

So he would be in charge of dealing with the raiders in the East? An easy enough job it seemed a good way to prove himself as well although he felt these Barbarians would be easy compared to the hardened Sassinid armies in the East. "No Sir," he says when the man asks for questions. He would have to get an inventory and troop count of the men under his command, but that was a job for a quarter Master not a senior officer.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Good." Fulvianus replied impassively. This man's task was the simpler thing to deal with, merely to engage any bands of raider that come ashore. It was a simple enough prospect and not one that required any sort of military genius to carry out. This was a test of the man himself to see if Gaius would be a liability or an asset here in this corner of the Empire. "My son Numerias will accompany you. I will commission him as a tribune in the Comital legion."

[Trot]

Gaius nodded, "Of course I will make my way over to assume command forthwith." With that he salutes his commanding officer and prepared to depart his mind on his assigned task. Once he was at the cost he could begin figuring out how to deal with the raids.

[Axis Sunsoar]

Cassivellaunus, a native Centurion in the British Legions, hesitantly approached the Comes. He didn't know why he had been summoned to speak to such a high-ranking military official. He was aware that the the raids from the Saxons were continuing, perhaps his familiarity with the land would be an asset? Finding the Comes' discussion finished, he approached and announced his presence.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Fulvianus notice the man enter and called him over. "Cassivellaunus, good of you to arrive swiftly. I'm assembling a Comital staff of sorts, and I'd like you to serve as an administrator on that staff." It was a role similar to the one he had been given in Persia, responsible for logistics, payroll, and other matters. At a stretch he would even be called upon to lead units. "You shall accompany me north to the wall, I will need men of experience and reputation to join me in this endeavor. You are aware, I trust, with the problems facing us?"

[Axis Sunsoar]

"I am... quite familiar with the situation, sir." He offered hesitantly. He did not quite grasp the nature of Rome's military politics, but it seemed at least that this might be a positive shift in his fortunes. Of course, he did not necessarily like the sound of administrator alone necessarily, so he hesitantly said as much, "My... nature is such that I feel I might be better used as a commander, but whatever you see most fit for me to do, I shall. I am as always the empire's servant." He saluted then, he knew to some extent that he was probably being selected for this role so that his levied countrymen would be receiving pay, or the news of a lack their of, from one of their own, but he belonged in battle.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Fuulvianus nodded. This was at least one who might not need to be executed either for cowardice or sedition later. "Follow my order and you will see your station advanced. Disobey them, and well..." He let the sentence dangle as he accepted a goblet of wine. "Do not disappoint me, Cassivellaunus."

[Axis Sunsoar]

The look in the Comes' eye as he sipped his wine told Cassivellaunus exactly what the end to that sentence was, and he knew that the suggestion of additional advancement was likely to be the closest thing he would get to a guarantee that he was not only to be an administrator. He had no desire to overstay his welcome, so with another salute he was out the door briskly, making his way back through the camp to prepare his things. He realized belatedly that he did not quite know when they would be departing, but from what he knew of Fuulvianus, there would be limited delay.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The ride north was blessedly uneventful, and Fulvianus was able to enjoy many hours of riding in spite of his age and girth. He always favored horses, and the one he rode now was one of his personal favorites, a chestnut mare. A majestic animal, and one of great personal pride to him. He rode with his head uncovered as a sign of his own strength. Soldiers picked up on the smallest acts of strength and at his age this mattered more than ever. He had been brought back to the country on a litter so he had to make up for that now. He was back in the saddle now, armored and armed, and brimming with confidence. Behind him, The Victores Iuniores and Secundi Iuniores marched in line and occasionally broke into a marching song. The march itself impressed upon him the continuity of the Roman presence in this land. They marched along a road that might have been laid four or five generations ago, and Romans still used it to this day. It was his job to ensure that after he was long dead, Romans continued to walk along this road.

Soon they would arrive at Luguvalium, where he would set his plan into motion. He would gather the friendly tribes to him and begin to lay his trap should the northern barbarians seek to threaten them in force. He called his attache, Cassivellaunus, to his side. "Summon Cynhyl of the Alcluyd and Cyndeyrn of the Goddodin. I have a task for you. You will broker an agreement with these two Kings to bring us information of the Scotii movements and their possible goals. If they give us warning of an attack, we will take further necessary steps." He tapped his own scabbard. "Bring them in, and encourage them to immediately mobilize whatever forces they have, to draw them within our prepared defenses. Their kin folk will be granted temporary refuge within the borders, walls, and forts, to the extent needed to keep them safe."

After he drew the friendly tribes into the border forts he would place traps and impediments along the land leading to the wall. With ambushes in place, all he would have to do is wait for the Scotii to walk into his trap. If things went to plan it might be a swift and stunning defeat. Any invaders would not find them sitting meekly in forts cowering behind walls, but like their ancestors of old they would hold the line bravely against the oncoming storm. It would be a notable approach from that of his predecessors and he was not unaware of the risks involved. Of course, the Comitatenses legions could be crushed in the attempt, but if they would be crushed then Fulvianus would be crushed among them. He rarely made plans which allowed himself to be killed, which spoke to the confidence he had in his own strategy.

[Axis Sunsoar]

Cassivellaunus offered a well-rehearsed soldier's salute and pivoted, marching out of the tent and making his way through and then out of the camp. He would personally visit Cynhyl of the Alcluyd first, and send his second-in-command, also a native Briton, as were most of the men in his century, to Cyndeyrn.

He swung lightly up on his horse, Liath, and rode with a small escort of four legionaries to the court of Cynhyl, where he approached the guards and asked to be brought before his countryman.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Both men are welcomed at the courts of these two Kings.

When the Roman approaches the King of the Goddobin, he finds a male with pale brown hair and weathered features. A man of later years, likely entering his mid-forties, sat upon a crude looking throne, attended by an advisor and several retainers and chieftains of his realm, awaited the arrival of Cassivellaunus. Among them was his son and heir, who stood to the right of his father. The King's Latin was better than those of his court, given his proximity and frequent interactions with the Romans, south of the Hadrians Wall. In his accented Latin, he spoke.

We welcome Cassivellaunus of the Romani to our court and inquire as to his purpose for being here.

=========================================

Likewise, the second-in-command of Cassivellaunus (can't find a name) is welcomed at the court of the King of the Alcluyd.

We welcome an emissary from the Romani. We inquire what is the purpose of your visit.

[Pontifex Maximus]

(ooc on second thought, I'll handle one of the Kings and Axis can handle one to keep this as non-monotonous as possible)

Fulvianus dismounted heavily from his horse, and he removed his helmet. He ran a hand across his shaved head, feeling that he would soon need to apply the knife again. The Comes took a conciliatory approach, he was polite though it was not entirely called for in this situation. The tribe could be crushed by a few legions, but the tribe's usefulness made them valuable, and they knew it. "King Cyndeyrn, it has been too long since we have opened up lines of communication with you. Apologies, we were quite busy in Persia. We have heard disturbing rumors of Damnonii raiding parties moving south and what's worse, a probable invasion force. I've come to inquire about what you know of these rumors and if they are true, to cooperate in a campaign to destroy the threat. Long have you been a friend to Rome, we call upon you now to confirm that friendship."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Persuasion Roll
Range: 5/10
Modifier: +2 for Friend of Rome
New Range: 7/10
Result: 6, success

The Damnonii have always sought to raid south, Fulvianus of the Romani. Yet.. their raids are becoming greater in scope, devastation and numbers.

Cyndeyrn sighs deeply, rubbing his temple at the thought of the last raid which penetrated into the Southern Uplands, a part of his realm.

My warriors itch to get back at them, but they have grown in size. Certainly to outnumber my own warriors. With the help of Rome, we certainly stand a better chance than before, Fulvianus.

It seemed the King of the Alcluyd was willing to cooperate with the Romans to eliminate the northern threat of the Damnonii.

What is the Romani willing to offer as aid in this struggle, Comes Britannium?

[Axis Sunsoar]

Both men are welcomed at the courts of these two Kings.

When the Roman approaches the King of the Goddobin, he finds a male with pale brown hair and weathered features. A man of later years, likely entering his mid-forties, sat upon a crude looking throne, attended by an advisor and several retainers and chieftains of his realm, awaited the arrival of Cassivellaunus. Among them was his son and heir, who stood to the right of his father. The King's Latin was better than those of his court, given his proximity and frequent interactions with the Romans, south of the Hadrians Wall. In his accented Latin, he spoke.

We welcome Cassivellaunus of the Romani to our court and inquire as to his purpose for being here.

Cassivellaunus offered a slight bow, as befitted the king of an independent tribe, but he was a man of battle, not diplomacy and so he got right to the point. "King Cynhyl, thank you for making me welcome in your court," he returned in Brittonic, so as not to make the King speak Latin, "My purpose is simple. For many years now your people been friend to the Romans to the south, among whom I now count myself. However, there are those to the North who are not. The Damnonii continue to harry our norther borders, which I would assume is also not good for your lands. Rome offers her support if you will offer your people as scouts, and send your warriors to stand alongside us as we repel them."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Persuasion Roll
Range: 5/10
Modifier: +2 for Friend of Rome
New Range: 7/10
Result: 6, success

The Damnonii have always sought to raid south, Fulvianus of the Romani. Yet.. their raids are becoming greater in scope, devastation and numbers.

Cyndeyrn sighs deeply, rubbing his temple at the thought of the last raid which penetrated into the Southern Uplands, a part of his realm.

My warriors itch to get back at them, but they have grown in size. Certainly to outnumber my own warriors. With the help of Rome, we certainly stand a better chance than before, Fulvianus.

It seemed the King of the Alcluyd was willing to cooperate with the Romans to eliminate the northern threat of the Damnonii.

What is the Romani willing to offer as aid in this struggle, Comes Britannium?

Fulvianus smiled at his minor victory. Things were going well at this early stage, he hoped he would be just as convincing in the next portion. "The Damnonii and their various confederates have become accustomed to a traditional mode of raiding. They anticipate first carving through these lands and forcing you to wait out the storm in your fortifications. This time would be no different but for the plan I have created."

He drummed his fingers against the low table and met the King's gaze. "Instead of undermanning several strong points at once, we will draw them in. Let them wash over these lands, gaining confidence. I have prepared a series of traps and snares along the wall, and I have moved additional legions in place. We would have you join us in strength, and allow your women and elderly to seek sanctuary in the safety of the wall. In the meantime, we will spring the trap and cripple these raiders so badly they will think twice before launching another incursion south ever again. When we have completed this rout of our common foe, the legions will march north and ensure your lands are rid completely of the foe. We will use our engineers to rebuild your strongholds so that the next time anyone ventures south, they will find a heavily improved line of defense, another wrinkle in their business as usual approach to raiding."

Fulvianus knew that this was all about keeping the barbarians off balance. They must know they were dealing with an unpredictable strategic mind, they would face no two challenges the same time. He wondered how high a price in lives they were willing to pay for paltry rewards. In time they may find that it is better to submit to Roman friendship and take up farming after all.