Ausilio I of Daletia

**Ausilio I of Daletia**, also known as **Ausilio the Great,** the **Soldier Emperor**, or the **Sybartian Emperor**, was a Daletian soldier, imperial bodyguard, general, and confidant of Emperor Flavo I. After his death at the hands of Spunio Ulixes, who crowned himself Spunio II, Ausilio rallied Flavo's remaining allies and followers and ultimately overthrew Spunio II after a four-year campaign, personally driving his sword through Spunio's heart.

Ausilio is noteworthy for three feats. Born a commoner, the fourth son of a farmer, he rose the ranks until ultimately being crowned Emperor himself. He was a Sybartian, not an ethnic Daletian. Finally, he managed to establish some degree of peace during the late Daletian Dark Age and was instrumental in bringing it to a close.

Ausilio would meet his end at the hands of Chrysanthus Ulixes, the cousin of Spunio II, who had Ausilio poisoned. After his death, Ausilio's son, Sisenna IV, briefly took the crown before being deposed by Chrystanthus and executed; ending the short yet impactful reign of House Fioccus.

## Biography

Ausilio was born on the outskirts of Puntus, the capital city of Sybartia Province. He was the fourth son of a former. Growing up during the Daletian Dark Age, Ausilio was taught to be wary of others and grew up with a martial emphasis, learning to fight at a young age. At the age of fifteen, Ausilio was conscripted into the Imperial Army, serving in the Seventh Legion.

Now a foot soldier, Ausilio showed more potential than the other conscripts and distinguished himself many times throughout various skirmishes and battles. Subsequently, he was recommended to the Daletian Imperial Guard, which he ultimately joined under the reign of Niceleus I.

With Niceleus I's death in 1178 AW, Imperial politics rapidly destabilised. His son, Niceleus II, was overthrown and House Ulixes, the founders of the Empire, found themselves deposed. During this time, the Imperial Guard briefly rebranded itself as the Palace Guard to stay out of the coming power struggles, vowing to serve whoever held the throne, yet not remaining loyal to those who sat upon it if they found themselves deposed.

As a result of this decision, Ausilio served under a staggering six Emperors between 1178 AW and 1187 AW. The final of these Emperors, Sisenna III of House Metisso, died of illness and was succeeded by his brother, Flavo I. Unlike other Emperors, Ausilio valued the ideas of Flavo I and became loyal to the Emperor himself, not the throne he sat on. It didn't take long for Flavo I to become acquainted with Ausilio, either, and the two developed an unlikely friendship.

Flavo I launched a series of campaigns seeking to recapture parts of Daletia occupied by rebels. Ausilio accompanied the Emperor as his foremost bodyguard, never leaving his side. However, after some months, Ausilio was granted the rank of commander. He proved capable of leading troops and was ultimately promoted further to the rank of general.

Flavo I reconquered much territory before being betrayed by one of his generals, the influential Spunio of House Ulixes, who attacked Flavo at the Battle of Savoniah. At Savoniah, Flavo I's centre was overrun, and the Emperor was killed by Spunio's forces. Instead of retreating, Ausilio launched a counterattack, recovering his friend's body and – importantly – the Imperial Crown.

Spunio wasn't fazed by Ausilio's actions and marched on the capital, Vigesna, where he proclaimed himself Spunio II of House Ulixes. He offered Ausilio a pardon and a position by his side, yet he was having none of it. Instead, Ausilio launched a rebellion from his native Sybartia, gaining full control over the province soon after. Meanwhile, Spunio II proved unpopular and many began joining Ausilio's rebellion. After four years of stalemate, Ausilio launched a series of rapid attacks, besieging the capital in 1194 AW and taking it before the year was over. It is said that in his last moments, Spunio II retreated into his chambers, which Ausilio stormed into personally, driving his sword through the Emperor's heart.

With the Empire now under his control, Ausilio wished to place the Imperial Crown on the head of Cesso Metisso, the much-beloved nephew of the late Flavo I. However, Cesso didn't want the position, and Ausilio's men made it clear they would rather serve him. As a result, Ausilio was crowned as the new Daletian Emperor with mixed feelings, becoming Ausilio I of Daletia.

Now the Emperor of Daletia, Ausilio I made it his mission to finish what Flavo I had started. He rallied his Legions and marched to war for eight years straight. He put down rebellions, rogue governors, robber barons, common bandits, and more in nearly every corner of the Empire whilst fighting on the frontline with his men at all times. Ironically, this increase in violence ultimately made the Empire more peaceful, as a period of stability was ushered in. Ausilio's ascension to the throne is also commonly viewed as the end of the Daletian Dark Age.

While Ausilio was at the height of his popularity, he was anything but popular amongst those loyal to House Ulixes. While Ausilio's rebellion against Spunio II had also targeted other figures in House Ulixes, he ultimately chose to spare them from further persecution due to their historical significance to Daletia. While this appealed to some moderates, it also allowed hardliners in House Ulixes to cling onto much of their former power. One such figure was Chrysanthus Ulixes, the grandson of Niceleus I.

Chrysanthus held the view that all Emperors who came after Niceleus II – save for Spunio II – had been illegitimate. In his eyes, Daletia was tied to the Ulixeses, and vice versa. The scheming Chrysanthus ultimately chose to kill Ausilio, yet he did not grant him a warrior's death. Instead, Chrysanthus invited the Emperor to a dinner under the guise of making peace, where he had him poisoned.

After his death, Ausilio's son, Sisenna, took over as Emperor Sisenna IV. Young and unprepared, his reign was doomed from the start. He was deposed and killed by Chrysanthus, who took the capital and crowned himself Chrysanthus II. In one blow, Ausilio's accomplishments became undone, yet his legacy as one of Daletia's greatest Emperors remains undisputed.

## Personality

While Ausilio's achievements were vast, he had a rather severe case of common touch due to originally being a peasant's son. House Fioccus was founded and fell with him, though it also was rather low down the aristocratic ladder. This made the nobility of Daletia lukewarm towards him, yet he was viewed as a people's Emperor by his soldiers and the commoners. Ausilio was extremely loyal to his allies and friends alike, meritocratic in who he chose as his officers, quite stubborn both in life and on the battlefield, and brave to the point of stupidity. At the end of the day, he was a warrior at heart; not an Emperor.

## Military Career

* Daletian Dark Age
	+ Battle of Savoniah - Defeat
	+ Siege of Vigesna - Victory