The Point of View of a Legionary in The 10th Century

-An old book published by Sir Puck after translating the Romikkan Script found nearly 320 years ago from 1522 A.T.F-

My last orders before what they call “The Apocalypse” were to be transferred from the Thirteenth Northern Legion to the Third Acrabian Legion. I remember being a Legionary in the Northern part of Orbis. Each province in Orbis was divided up. In The North there was The Western Vaedesian Praetor,The Northern Vaedesian Praetor,and The Southern Vaedesian Praetor and many more across the Empire from Rahistan to Danika. I was stationed in The Northern Vaedesian Praetor. Not much happened here except politics and traders, most of the fighting with northerners happened beyond the Shield of Titus. The last of the Northern Clans in this region were as my fellow legions would say "Sadly" subjugated by Gallius and The Third Legion nearly two centuries ago. However in The Far North there are still large parts we have not conquered from what I remember, specifically in the past The Shield of Titus. Though i doubt i will ever be given the opportunity to see that part of the world.

I woke up like I usually did every day,ate my rations, and put on my Lorica HegminSegmintata. After I put on my armor, and my helmet I met my Centurion for orders. The man was an old Chinikan, he was battered with scars everywhere, and even some soldiers joked about how his time was overdue. But in reality he acted like he just got the job and at the age of fifty four he seemed like he was in his twenties, ready to go into any battle anywhere. Nevertheless he looked up from a paper he had in his hand and gave a small smile. You could see his aged teeth when, and when he did smile you could smell his breath fresh with ale from the camp's tavern. He looked around and started pointing at several soldiers to gather their things. He once again faced me and said "You already have your things...good,well i have orders to transfer you to a New Legion and before you asked me why i have no idea. But lucky you, you'll be able to see some action while the rest of us watch it burn."

I looked at him with confusion, I knew The Empire wasn’t in the best state. Especially with the Horatii Brothers leading the newer legions in the north. Rumor was they lost six legions past The Shield. But we have hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of men ready to replace them. From the Tributary Kingdoms like the one led by King Romulus Aquila to the Hoplataki Recruiting Grounds in The South. But nevertheless I still pondered about what he had said. I have been transferred from legions before, and they were never too far away from each other so I shrugged and asked "To which legion now?"

He turned and looked at me. You could see he was very tired as he usually wakes up a few hours before we do but still he stood strong and tall a man of his renown he had to have strength. While it was already strange he was a Chinikan in the Northern Regions far from home. There was a reason, he was a part of a Religious Rebellion called the Followers of Ikkura. He had to leave after the Shiagon ordered the land to be purged of the Followers. Strength,Discipline, and Honor were things not foreign to him. He looked around the mountain range and then looked back at me. I was confused on why he was taking so long but he reluctantly nudged out the words ``The Third Acrabian Legion".

It took me a minute to realize I was going to be transferred thousands of miles away to Acrabia to join the Legion I didn't know a single thing about. I looked at him and asked "Isn't that an Auxiliary Legion sir?". The Centurion noticed my question but took a few minutes to reply. He was busy looking at the names on the paper and waiting for the Wagon Transports. He finally got to me again and replied "No they are Romikkan Blood born in Acrabia now get to your transport, and good luck."

I saw the wagon climbing up the hill slowly with loud creaking noises as it looked in ill shape. I Grabbed my bags out of my tents and began to board. Before I was able to get on the Centurion grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. He looked at me and said something I would never forget. He said “Don’t die for the sins of a dead Empire”. I shook my head in agreeance and boarded the Wagon. The more I thought about it, it made sense why The Empire had nearly Dozens of Legions from Acrabia. During the conquest of Titus his wife was killed by the Acrabians but he had a son of Acrabian Blood. On his deathbed he distributed land amongst his sons,and he gave the Acrabian Born son only two of the cities of Acrabia out several major ones. Those cities were Iztabul and Zoria. The rest went to the Romikkan Born son. The most notable cities were Sultania,Carigo,Pyra,Krotia, and Jeru; Acrabia was by far the smallest of Titus's Empires while Romikka was easily the largest. It took me about eleven months to get to the Legions current post and I was surprised that I was transported to the city of Taan instead to the Deserts of Zoria. Taan was a city on the Far Southern Shores of Orbis, birthplace of King Ledious who was famous for defeating Dalguul. When I arrived I was given a paper with details of what my assignment was and why I was there.

-"You have been moved to the Third Acrabian Legion to supplement it's recent losses. Your job will be simple! To put down a rebellion in The Eastern Praetor of Danika led by one of the Regional Governors named Lanius Maximus after the failure of Legate Vaux to keep order in the region. The Summary of this altercation is he was well loved in his Regional Theater by the locals. He has won the Provincial Governor’s Election for six terms in a row. Until his Rival Clarigan who was a well known politician from Londa convinced the Emperor Pompolus himself to move a large tribe called the Velti Tribe to his region. The Velti were put on Imperial Owned Land after a massive resettlement project. However Lanius's province has struggled to keep above the minimum population requirements to be considered a province, and is under 30,000 Inhabitants. The tribe being moved to Clarigans province would undoubtedly cause a rift in the Provincial Elections for The Governor Postion. The Tribe greatly loves Clarigan and if they moved there Lanis would lose due to the tribe's large population of nearly 112,000 People. Lanius demanded that The Emperor revoke this decision but was met with no reply. When Lanius did not get his demands he gathered his loyal populace and what was left of Vaux's Legions and barricaded himself in the Regional Capital city of Barbudica. You have been reassigned Legions to help meet this Rebellion and to put an end to it as the Third Legion is preoccupied in the New Lands to meet and quell this Rebellion. After the completion of your tour you will be moved east to the Steppe of Drazzan to deal with the Palax Empire's declaration of war. Good luck legionnaire!"-

When I saw this I realized how bad It had truly gotten. For the first time I was about to be deployed on the front lines. I have never fought an actual battle nor do I really want to. I joined the legion to escape a gang that I owed a debt to not fight a bunch of bloodthirsty Rebels and an Empire of Nomadic Drazzanians. Hearing the loss from Vaux gives me a good idea of what my fate will become. This will be my last entry in my journal, for even if I survive this battle there are rumors in the Capitol that The Bureaucrats are having troubles quelling some dark force with the little control over the legions they have. I anticipate this is the beginning of the end. Titus be with us.