Publius Decius Agricola
| Imperial Legate Publius Decius Agricola Hand of the Emperor | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Publius Decius Agricola |
| Birth name | Publius Decius Agricola |
| Born | Lapis, Camuria, Kingdom of Helmsdeep |
| Allegiance | Empire of Kythira |
| Service/branch | Imperial Legion of Kythira |
| Years of service | 1 |
| Rank | Imperial Legate, Triarius |
| Unit | Kythiran High Command |
| Commands held | Legio I Coetzee |
| Awards | Knight of Kythira |
Publius of clan Decius, branch Agricola, grew up in Stonehelm, back when it was still part of the Helmsdeep colony of Marsadini. A farmer by trade, Agricola tended to the farms of Stonehelm, and he lived a relatively peaceful life far away from the raids and wars further north. In his free time he would fish in the cape of Dorne, or swim to Bear Island to walk through the silent forest that stood on the island. If the harvest was plentiful, he would sell the remaining produce in Marsadini to, among others, Redstonian traders. He had a nice and tidy income, saving up his gold to one day be able to afford a nice house in Marsadini and retire there. He frequented the library and attended Marsadini University part time as well as he could, despite his parents never being able to afford him a proper education in his youth. When hearing of the founding of the United Federation of Provinces he became a fervent supporter, but could only voice it in secret due to the threat of facing imprisonment in a Helmsdeep dungeon.
However, as the War of Two Kings intensified and the native Helmsdeep troops began suffering losses, the Helmsdeep military began calling upon the colonial citizen-soldiers of Camuria. The Camurians in particular were renowned for their unique fighting ability, being the only ones focusing on quality-over-quantity disciplined legionary heavy infantry. Agricola too, being a healthy, strong and able-bodied man, was drafted into service. Despite being politically opposed to Helmsdeep foreign policy and supporting the Federation, he knew that the punishment for desertion was death.
Agricola, along with his fellow Stonehelm conscripts, were quickly and rigidly trained, learning to follow every command to the letter and facing harsh punishments for disobedience. Compared to other levied troops, the Camurians were significantly more disciplined, although not quite matching full-time soldiers of fortune or elite infantry. Agricola and his group were sent to the Riverlands, initially being pitched against Kythiran forces. However, after the near-neutralisation of the Kythiran military, they were ordered to partake in the raids on the Riverlands.
As the Second Era came to a close however, he witnessed the horrors of war first hand as the Redstonians stormed into the Cape of Marsadini during the Great Grief. As they killed every man, woman and child they could find, raided the stockpiles and burned down all they could, Agricola could only survive by fleeing into the jungle south of Stonehelm, a place he knew well from childhood. After the old world had ended, Argicola built himself a small home west of the jungle. Here, he would live for several years, tending a smaller farm and teaching himself the art of swordfighting, vowing that he would do whatever it took to protect the innocent from the fate that he suffered.
During mid 5AC, his home was discovered by Kythiran scouts planning a new road between Lannisport, the new name for Marsadini, and Dorne, a city that has been built on the Cape of Dorne. At first seen as a Imperius spy, he was brought before the Emperor himself. After seeing what the Emperor of Kythira had done, uniting a world that had been at war for years under one banner, he knew that serving that leader would be the best way that he could fulfill his vow of protecting the innocent. After being granted citizenship, he was handed Bear Island as a gesture of good will, which had a minor Kythiran keep known as Fort Mormont on it.
After expanding fort Mormont, Agricola moved to the Imperial City with a proposal to the Emperor: A Kythiran Legion, a small but dedicated and professional army meant to be loyal to the Kythiran Crown and thus he could fulfill his vows. The request was granted, and Agricola recieved funds, materials and aid from Ardoragh's best engineers, and Bear Island was quickly expanded into a formidable base for the new Legion. In the White Gold Tower, he was named Imperial Legate.
Later, during the Trial of High Lord Whazajottom, he was also Knighted by the Emperor, granting him the title of Knight of Kythira, making him the Emperor's most important bodyguard, and he gained the position of Hand of the Emperor, making him one of the most powerful people of the Kythiran Empire.