Agustus Pius

Agustus is the current serving governor of the Ithacian providence. Before that he has been a mercenary captain, legionnaire, centurion, first spear, and Tribune Equites. He has long advocated the creation of a true heavy cavalry to counter the Dakarian advantage during a charge. A skilled commander both of politics and military force, his popularity with the plebs has kept him far from the Senate as others fear his growing power.

Augustus began his rise to power as the captain in an Irillian mercenary company serving in Selcaria after it had broken ties with Irill. During this time many Irillian companies would take jobs as mecenaries because Irill could not afford to pay her own troops. Augustus and his company, The Fifth Riders, were so good that they were able to pay for an independent century of footmen to guard Irill's northern lands from the Kryandians. This action brought him a great deal of political sway and bounty from captured raiders.

When the Irillian Senate finally began to bring the providences back into line and rebuild the collapsed political structure, Captain Augustus was one of the first of the mercenary captains that asked to return home. As the head of a parade befitting any Irillian conquerer, Augustus rode home in honor. Decius, head of the Irillian Senate, then named him Augustus Pius for the providence of Ithicia.

The Ithician providence is the most northeastern providences and probably as far from the capitol that the Senate could send the wildly popular Augustus and still have the support of the people. When he arrived at the head of his supporters he found a providence beset by banditry and morally bankrupt. In the next thirty years he raised three decades and set them to clearing out the most problematic bandits. He waged a small battle with the nearby Carthin Stonemen tribe and not only won their respect but water rights for the Pythius River. In connection with Bishop Septimius he rebuilt the Irrishite church to its stature before the Great Fall.

Under his care the Ithician providence grew wealthy and powerful. With trading contracts with several Turanian merchants, Kryandrian border towns, and the Stonemen tribe Augustus was hailed as a powerful statesman. By supporting the local artists he gained reknown as a man of the people and Ithicia was the center of the classical art world. All of these steps gave Augustus more political power than his position would normally allow, especially considering he only came to the Senate when asked.

Now in his twilight years, he personal power has waned but he is still respected in many military circles. He has groomed his oldest son, Hadrian, to serve as Pius after he dies; while the next two serve in the Ithicia military and his youngest, Theodosius, commands a mercenary company serving in Selcaria. All of his daughters are married off to powerful Senators in nearby providences, giving him five grandchildren already. He has lived a good life and now simply waits for the end.

A withered man with only a few whisps of gray hair remaining he need the use of a cane to simply move around. His longtime friend, advisor, and court magician has suggest several remedies for his ailments but Augustus remains stubborn in the use of magic to turn back the clock of time. His eyes are still sharp although they have been milking over as blindness sets in. Still, his mind remains sound and unlike many of the providencial lords he maintains a strong military that trains often. He is outspoken against the growing threat from the Dakarians and wants to raise another army to retake the lands of the Three Kingdoms. As one of the last military hardliners he is usually ignored, but there are still a few that will listen to him.

Augustus is a powerful man in the twilight of his years. Where he was once strong enough to ride at the head of his army, now he sends his sons to do the same thing. Still, he has a great deal of political power and even more connections. As a patron, Augustus can still make things happen in the Imperial Senate or the outlying providences — as an enemy his reach is long and powerful.