Cornelia Calpurnius

Quaestor of the Eighth Cohort, Decentius Fifth Legion

Nona Calpurnius at-Harith, sister (deceased)

Kilab at-Harith, brother-in-law (alive)

## **Beginnings**

Born into a military family within the Colovian Estates, Cornelia was the eldest of two sisters. Her youth was spent wielding a wooden sword and shield, and riding the family's horse.

One year she was gifted a pair of ballet slippers. Surprising everyone, a young Cornelia was drawn towards the graceful motions of the dance. Later, as an adult, she incorporated such movements into her fighting style.

## Second Legion

When of age, Cornelia enlisted in the Imperial army. It was a source of pride for herself and family when she joined the Second Legion. As a legionnaire, Cornelia served in a unit stationed in the Gold Coast under the command of sergeant Marcella Baelsar. She would serve with Baelsar throughout her time in the Imperial Legion.

## **Colovian Revolt**

When Duke Varen Aquilarios marshaled his forces in response to Emperor Leovic's legalization of Daedric worship, as a member of the Second Legion, Cornelia fought in Varen's rebellion in the heartland of Cyrodiil. Cornelia was not only a willing participant of the rebellion but an eager one, viewing the Longhouse Emperors as illegitimate and heretics.

## **Falkreath Hold**

After the defeat of Emperor Leovic, his allies the Icereach Coven were forced back to the Reach by the Second Legion in pursuit of them. The coven was tracked to Falkreath Hold where they fought battles to the north and west. The Legion saw major casualties on both fronts and the Optio ordered an immediate withdrawal back to the Jerall Mountains for further orders.

## **Desertion**

After the death of Emperor Varen and the Imperial City overrun by the Daedric forces of Molag Bal, Cornelia and her unit were last seen in Kvatch pledging their loyalty to Carolus Aquilarios, nephew to Varen Aquilarios. However the Count refused the mantle of Emperor. It was then Cornelia and a few of her cohorts buried their Second Legion weapons at a forge yard northwest of Anvil and went their separate ways.

## **Alik'r Desert**

With the loss of her Emperor and of her kin, who had died in the Imperial City, Cornelia spent the following years wallowing in sorrow as she drifted about seeking redemption and a purpose in her broken life.

At the behest of her brother-in-law, Cornelia traveled to Sentinel to serve as guard to Magnifica Carina Cabral, Tear of Hegathe.

## **Spatharia**

At the beginning of the year 2E 590, under the orders of Lady Magnifica Carina, Cornelia traveled to the Colovian Highlands to a land known as Spatharia under the command of Dominus Volund Decentius. She was sent to protect Sister Mariana Nautius, a Priestess of Dibella and former confidant to the noblewoman.

Dominus Decentius immediately put Cornelia into his army as a legionnaire. Her time with the Black Legion would be some of the most trying in recent memory and arguably the most traumatic as Cornelia was taken hostage by the forces of the Red Drake.

On a scouting mission, Cornelia became the target of Reachmagic. It compelled her, against her will, to surrender to the forces at Gratian. They captured Cornelia and stripped her of her armor and weapons. After being interrogated, Cornelia was routinely and daily abused, tortured and humiliated.

Eventually freed from captivity, Cornelia rejoined the Decentius army in their attack on the Red Drake forces in Ansburg. She participation in the capture of Romulus Castle and the town of Veraxia; witnessing the defeat of the Red Drake by Volund Decentius.

## **Present**

Inspired by the battle tactics of a man who fought in the shield wall and knew when to withdraw and when to pursue, as well as the leadership qualities of Volund Decentius, Cornelia opted to join his army officially. With the death of her superior Quaestor Buccinator Amorian and for her actions during the Ansburg campaign, Cornelia was promoted to Quaestor of the Eighth Cohort.