Bohaddon
Current Leader/Government:Ducis Alta
Settlements Owned:/b] 2
[b]Provinces Owned: 1
Population: 160,000
Standing Army: - <Octavian Legion>/<Army Strength>
- <Legionaries>/<8,000>/<Heavy armour>
- <Archer Auxilia>/<3,000>/<No bonuses>
- <Praetorian Knights>/<500>/<No bonuses>/<Crossing into Bahaporian territory><100%>
-<1st Fleet>/<20 Light Ships>/<15 Medium Ships>/<5 Heavy Ships>/<Crossing into Bahaporian territorial waters>/<100 %>
Population Happiness: 65%Imports: None
Exports: Slaves, Iron, Bronze
Wealth: Average
Alliances: None
Trade Pacts: None
Cease Fires: None
Rise of an Empire
Ducis Alta Rumauis paced the length of the hall, her face as hard as the marble floors she walked upon. She was in the only building in Aventius that still contained some of the famed architecture of the old empire; the Great Hall.
Here was where the leaders of old came to be buried, sealed away in grand stone tombs, worthy of their exploits in life. The tombs were on display on either side of the hall, lined up neatly between towering marble columns. Standing proudly above each tomb was a statue of the one who lay within, their hardened faces keeping an eternal vigil for the dead. The Ducis hoped, nay demanded, that her own remains would be interred in the Great Hall upon her death, after she had conquered and destroyed and...
No. Such thoughts were weak and foolish. Ducis Alta frowned, angry at herself for deluding herself with a fool's dreams. Clenching her fists, her short black hair moved left to right with the motion of her head. This was not the time for ridiculous dreams. There was work to be done. Nations to be conquered. Lessons to be taught.
Turning on the worn heel of her brown leather boots, she walked brusquely to the large oak doors that marked the exit. As she moved, the blood red cape fastened around her neck billowed out behind her, contrasting sharply with her faded brown leather armour.The blade resting in the sheath at her hip clinked slightly with each step. It was a garb one would expect to find a common soldier in, not the leader of a vast land; she had stripped herself of all trinkets and adornments, for they encouraged greed, and thus weakness. Reaching the end of her stride, she pushed open the creaking doors and stepped outside into her empire.
A pale, grey sky coated the hundreds of naked bodies clustered together beneath the steps of the Great Hall, in a perpetual gloom. The darkness hid their faces, but not their sounds; wailing human babes, sobbing elven mothers, coughing orc fathers. Ducis Alta scowled in disgust. These people had been weak and cowardly in life, and they would be weak and cowardly in death. Those with true strength faced their dignity with death and honour, no matter what. These people were not worthy of existence; not in her new empire, not anywhere. A wave of her hand was all it took, and doom advanced from all sides.
Men armoured in mail and plate and wielding bows and swords, advanced from all sides, bearing down fast on the weak. As the first arrows was loosed into an old General who liked wine more than war, Ducis Alta smiled. She was removing the tumour of weakness that had begun to manifest in her lands, and ensuring her people remained strong. Screams rang out into the empty sky, reminding any nearby of their fate should they become weak. When at last the slaughter was complete, the Ducis spoke, her words emerging in the high tongue of old.
"Today, with this action, you have proven your undying loyalty to the Empire, but more importantly to me! I, Ducis Alta, grant you my blessing to join the ranks of our honoured military, and become true soldiers of Bohaddon! You came here today boys, but shall leave as men! Renati in sanguinem!"
A hundred voice chorused back in unison, "Glory to the Ducis and Her Empire! Renati in sanguinem!", before marching off to the barracks nearby. As the last of the men faded into the dusk, three figures approached and knelt before the steps, before rising and facing Ducis Alta.
They were her advisors; military, diplomatic, and economic men, all from the Empire of old. Tulius, a haggard and greying man of 50, who had lived through more battles than any man had a right to, was the first to speak.
"Ducis, I have received word from our forces at the Northern border. They are ready to move into Bahaporian territory at your command."
The Ducis' face twisted into a smile at the news. "Good. These ignorant and foolish lizards in the north have oppressed our kind for too long. How dare they multiply and breed, gaining control and placing our glorious race beneath them! I am aware that a group of minorities have started a rebellion in lizard territory. While they are traitors who abandoned the old empire in her time of need, they show some strength in their actions. Inform our troops to spare half of them; I shall be generous to our enemies in this instance."
"Very good Ducis. There is one other matter. The lizards to the south have-"
"Have begun attacking the lands the 9th Legion once called home!" Leventus, a shrivelled old man who sported a wispy white beard, interrupted sharply. A fierce supporter of the old Empire, the Ducis knew of his hatred for anyone but humans. It was a surprise then, that he was her diplomatic advisor. "We need to drive them back! They cannot be allowed to take lands that our rightfully ours! They will pollute it's purity with their stinking filth! Ducis, I strongly advise you to inform Hightower's regent of our intent to send him aid! We can convince him in return, to pledge his loyalty to us! This is much wiser than our current plan to attack the North, which would bring down the wrath of the land's allies upon us, for they will view our attack as unjust! We cannot win a war so great!"
The Ducis glared at Leventus, and spoke, her tone icy cold. "I will not be shouted at Leventus. Do you take me for some common slave? I suggest you watch your tone. Insolence is a sign of weakness, and you all saw what happens to the weak." Leventus' face grew a pale white and he meekly nodded in reply.
The Ducis gestured to the last man to speak. Ava, a quiet, crooked man, with a balding head, spoke in a soft, velvet tone.
"Ducis, I must agree with Leventus, as much as it pains me to do so. This threat from the lizards could be damaging to our economic strength. Our mines in Minos our too close to their borders, and they may seem them as an easy target. I suggest we deal with this threat before beginning a war."
Tulius opened his mouth to argue, but the Ducis cut him off.
"Enough! The Old Empire was destroyed because of petty squabbles such as this! Divisions within our own Empire are weakness of the greatest kind, and I will not tolerate them! The decision rests with me, and while you have been bickering I have decided! Tulius, the invasion will commence as planned, however Leventus raises a valid point. We cannot risk any other nations becoming involved in this war. Send a decree to all nations, informing them that we are intervening on behalf of rebel forces, as we feel it is unjust for the lizards to treat our people in this way. As for our southern borders, order the overseers there to increase guard patrols near the border. That should frighten of the lizards for now. Today a new era begins. Renati in sangiuem!"