Emperor Arno
Imperator and Autocrat of the Rasenna Petrus Maxenius Mathias (a.k.a. Arno)
The final emperor of the Rasenna, an ambitious ruler who sought to restore the borders and power of the old empire through a series of stunning campaigns which nearly stabilized the crumbling state
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Arno was a trained soldier from childhood, he was strong, quick, and skilled with weaponry, and personally able in the field and in the saddle.
Body Features
Arno stood tall in the saddle and on foot, his height was above average and his body was athletic and sturdy
Facial Features
Large eyes, a clean-shaven face, and a strong jawline and chin. Arno was handsome and dignified in appearance and was the envy of most men.
Identifying Characteristics
identified for his large eyes, clean-shaven face and imperial dignity
Apparel & Accessories
Wore the apparel, crown, and authority of a proper Emperor of the Rasenna
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born Petrus Maxenius Mathias in the former Rasennan province of Mykra. Arno, as he came to be known later, was the moniker the emperor would be called by his allies and enemies posthumously. The Old Herodi name Aran, from which we get Arno, meant "eagle". The name Arno came about as at Arno's birth, a Herodi guardsman in the retinue of his father spied an eagle circling overhead. The guardsman praised Arno's mother for giving birth under such favorable omens, omens which predicted the baby's future fame and greatness as a patron of an eagle spirit.
Arno would not have long to become acquainted with his homeland as at the age of three, the territory was lost to the ascendant Rasanids and the Empire began to buckle due to the dynamic power shifts of the age. Arno would grow up in a chaotic age, infighting among the Rasenna had led to catastrophic defeats abroad, in a disaster at the shores of Calar, the best troops the empire had to offer sunk beneath the waves along with Emperor Procopius. Since this event, the empire's army notoriously proved ineffective at protecting its borders as more and more territory was taken from the state via its crippling in the aftermath of this naval disaster. Arno's father, Mathias had been a notable provincial who had taken his family west in an exodus from their falling home and settled in southern Lakia. Mathias had been made captain of the Scholai imperial guard in 49 B.E by Emperor Scabalus and succeeded in usurping power from him. Mathias' reign seemed destined for failure as he was beset on all sides by enemies foreign and domestic. However, in a manner similar to his later son's brilliance, Mathias would steer the ship clear of these obstacles and manage to bring some needed stability to the collapsing empire. He reformed the army and recruited more mercenary and foreign soldiers into the Tagma to help bolster the beleaguered legions and reformed the system of equipping the soldiers. Now soldiers were paid with the expectation that they would spend part of their salary on equipping themselves with arms and armor via the private vendors who sold to them. This helped the economy of the empire greatly but also disgruntled the soldiers who in effect had received a pay cut.
Arno would accompany his father on campaign into Hakkadia, in an effort to retake the valuable province which had fallen into the hands of the Imazir only recently. Mathias' campaign would be hard-fought, his men sweat more than they bled and in five years the rich cities of Hakkadia and later eastern Hasdulia were back in imperial possession. This, however, would be the extent of Mathias' accomplishments as emperor as he was assassinated in 32 B.E by a deranged man named Macorius. Macorius' delusional attempted usurpation was halted by the efforts of the captain of the Scholai guard, a friend of both Mathias and Arno, Junius Cyrilus. Cyrilus' capture of Macorius after he attempted to flee the city paved the way for Arno to be acclaimed emperor by his father's troops and soon he was back in the capital celebrating a triumph in his father's memory for the reclamation of Hakkadia.
This triumph was immensely influential for Arno's image and soon, the 19-year-old emperor gained the confidence needed for his first challenge as emperor, an invading group of Yarmeza riders had entered Lakia and would threaten the capital in a week's time. Arno celebrated his triumph and then rode out with his palace guard, parade troops, and his father's veterans to meet this threat. Arno met the Yarmeza at a pass in the mountains and drove them off, his attack was so sudden the riders had neglected their looted valuables which safely entered into the possession of Arno who gave half of the loot to his soldiers and sent the rest back home to be added to the treasury.
As far as many were concerned, this display won more supporters than Arno's triumph had and attracted new recruits from areas that had once been deemed unable to supply proper soldiers. It was a spontaneous occurrence but it seemed that Arno's victory, his reputation for just action, his humility and practicality combined with a sudden wave of patriotic fervor had convinced many landed peasants and slaves to run away and seek to serve in the army. Arno's next move would prove to be disastrous, he allowed these men into his service and agreed that service in the army would be equal to service on the farms and in the cities. This put him in irreconcilable standing with the landed nobles of Lakia who would from that day seek to undermine him in every way.
Two years into his reign, Arno had only successes under his belt, he had firstly, been acclaimed emperor in the first place, he had won legitimacy in the eyes of the people, and had successfully fended off a barbarian invasion of the home province. Arno however, was not satisfied and looked beyond the current borders and dared to dream of more for the empire of the Rasennans. Arno looked north, west and east and saw opportunities for reconquest and he began on the most likely avenue for success, reconquering Agrihenia and further on down to Mykra. Mykra and Agrihenia had been lost to the Rasanids and Yarmeza respectfully but these holds had been in name only and control of the land was very weak. Arno's invasion of Agrihenia in 28 B.E would kick off massive gains that would see him defeat the Yarmeza in two encounters at the Geisian Gate and at Stavrila which forced the Yarmeza back across the Oltune or into federate status. These victories snowballed as more soldiers reinforced Arno's army, sent by his Scholai captain Cyrilus.
In 26 B.E, Arno's army again set out further east to do battle with the powerful Rasanids. The Mykran campaign would initially be a vast success, the army made it all the way to Essenia, the emperor's birthplace, before word came of a Rasanid response arriving from the east. Arriving with an army numbering some 50,000, this dwarfed Arno's army of some 10,000-15,000 and so a fortifying of Rhaesia was made and cities were properly garrisoned with the provincial capital of Gordianum being occupied by Arno himself. The defense of Gordianum would be fierce, every inch of the walls would come under attack, and in some cases even be breached. However, the stout defenses and expert planning of the defenders won them a victory in the old city of Gordian, and the Rasanids were forced to withdraw due to harassment of their supply lines by forces led by Cyrilus.
At the end of the year 21 B.E, Arno sat in control of all of Lakia, Agirhenia, and Mykra. His victory at Gordianum earned him another triumph in his return to the capital. By 19 B.E, Arno again would set out for war, this time against the northern Marvingians, and Hasdinians. The plan was beyond audacious, seeking to lure this alliance of powerful Herodi kingdoms would be extremely difficult but Arno trusted the experience of his men and his own competency. An engagement was planned, near the village of Turon, a combined army of the Rasennans with their Hedbard and Leutrburg allies would utterly crush the Marvingians and Hasdinans in a brilliant maneuver sending the empire into joyous acclaim.
Turon would be Arno's crowning achievement, his victory there would temporarily force the Hasdinians and Marvingians into federate status and clear the way west towards Hasdulia, where Arno planned on turning on his flimsy alliance with the Leutrburgs and retake Galukia from them. The Leutrburgs had arrived late at Turon and made a ruckus quarreling with Hedbards and imperial troops alike, they officially broke ties with both after Turon and retreated with loot back to Hasdulia. This was used as justification and Arno rallied his tired army and his Hedbard allies to service once more and marched west intent on another campaign of reconquest. This would initially go well, a skirmish ended in victory at Saravola but this would be the last battle of Arno's reign.
Arno had finally pushed his men to their limit, some nearing 40 years of warfare at this point. It is not known when, but a conspiracy reached the ears of Arno's 2nd in command Cyrilus, Cyrilus had great sway in the ranks and also seems to have been tempted by the rhetoric of irritated Lakic nobles calling for Arno's head. It isn't known what motivated him, but Cyrilus organized the assassination of his emperor. On the night of the ides of Marce, 15 B.E Arno retired to his tent, only to be met with daggers by his own guardsmen. Initially coming upon the emperor with daggers, Arno had disarmed the first man but was stabbed in the back by another. After this display, Arno's assassins overpowered him, stabbing him repeatedly despite fierce resistance coming from the emperor. At the end of the violence, Arno was apparently berated by his assassins and told of their motivations for betraying him. However, some of the older men seem to have pitied their former commander and told him through tearful eyes that they simply wished to go home. Eventually, Cyrilus stepped forward, dagger in hand and like an actor supposedly spoke "Deíte pós pethaínei o Týrannos" or "See how the Tyrant dies" to which Arno famously replied,
"O Týrannos? Vlépo móno tin aftokratoría mou na pethaínei"
"The Tyrant? I only see my empire die".
Arno's assassination would be the final time the empire would be ruled by a strong, and powerful leader as after the empire would truly collapse, Arno's victories would not be enough to prevent the empire's fall from coming to pass and retribution would come 15 years later when Rasca was sacked by a united coalition of the empire's enemies. The empire fell on that day in 15 B.E and the world would soon follow with it when Rasca was destroyed and the world fell to the Dykairos.
Arno would not have long to become acquainted with his homeland as at the age of three, the territory was lost to the ascendant Rasanids and the Empire began to buckle due to the dynamic power shifts of the age. Arno would grow up in a chaotic age, infighting among the Rasenna had led to catastrophic defeats abroad, in a disaster at the shores of Calar, the best troops the empire had to offer sunk beneath the waves along with Emperor Procopius. Since this event, the empire's army notoriously proved ineffective at protecting its borders as more and more territory was taken from the state via its crippling in the aftermath of this naval disaster. Arno's father, Mathias had been a notable provincial who had taken his family west in an exodus from their falling home and settled in southern Lakia. Mathias had been made captain of the Scholai imperial guard in 49 B.E by Emperor Scabalus and succeeded in usurping power from him. Mathias' reign seemed destined for failure as he was beset on all sides by enemies foreign and domestic. However, in a manner similar to his later son's brilliance, Mathias would steer the ship clear of these obstacles and manage to bring some needed stability to the collapsing empire. He reformed the army and recruited more mercenary and foreign soldiers into the Tagma to help bolster the beleaguered legions and reformed the system of equipping the soldiers. Now soldiers were paid with the expectation that they would spend part of their salary on equipping themselves with arms and armor via the private vendors who sold to them. This helped the economy of the empire greatly but also disgruntled the soldiers who in effect had received a pay cut.
Arno would accompany his father on campaign into Hakkadia, in an effort to retake the valuable province which had fallen into the hands of the Imazir only recently. Mathias' campaign would be hard-fought, his men sweat more than they bled and in five years the rich cities of Hakkadia and later eastern Hasdulia were back in imperial possession. This, however, would be the extent of Mathias' accomplishments as emperor as he was assassinated in 32 B.E by a deranged man named Macorius. Macorius' delusional attempted usurpation was halted by the efforts of the captain of the Scholai guard, a friend of both Mathias and Arno, Junius Cyrilus. Cyrilus' capture of Macorius after he attempted to flee the city paved the way for Arno to be acclaimed emperor by his father's troops and soon he was back in the capital celebrating a triumph in his father's memory for the reclamation of Hakkadia.
This triumph was immensely influential for Arno's image and soon, the 19-year-old emperor gained the confidence needed for his first challenge as emperor, an invading group of Yarmeza riders had entered Lakia and would threaten the capital in a week's time. Arno celebrated his triumph and then rode out with his palace guard, parade troops, and his father's veterans to meet this threat. Arno met the Yarmeza at a pass in the mountains and drove them off, his attack was so sudden the riders had neglected their looted valuables which safely entered into the possession of Arno who gave half of the loot to his soldiers and sent the rest back home to be added to the treasury.
As far as many were concerned, this display won more supporters than Arno's triumph had and attracted new recruits from areas that had once been deemed unable to supply proper soldiers. It was a spontaneous occurrence but it seemed that Arno's victory, his reputation for just action, his humility and practicality combined with a sudden wave of patriotic fervor had convinced many landed peasants and slaves to run away and seek to serve in the army. Arno's next move would prove to be disastrous, he allowed these men into his service and agreed that service in the army would be equal to service on the farms and in the cities. This put him in irreconcilable standing with the landed nobles of Lakia who would from that day seek to undermine him in every way.
Two years into his reign, Arno had only successes under his belt, he had firstly, been acclaimed emperor in the first place, he had won legitimacy in the eyes of the people, and had successfully fended off a barbarian invasion of the home province. Arno however, was not satisfied and looked beyond the current borders and dared to dream of more for the empire of the Rasennans. Arno looked north, west and east and saw opportunities for reconquest and he began on the most likely avenue for success, reconquering Agrihenia and further on down to Mykra. Mykra and Agrihenia had been lost to the Rasanids and Yarmeza respectfully but these holds had been in name only and control of the land was very weak. Arno's invasion of Agrihenia in 28 B.E would kick off massive gains that would see him defeat the Yarmeza in two encounters at the Geisian Gate and at Stavrila which forced the Yarmeza back across the Oltune or into federate status. These victories snowballed as more soldiers reinforced Arno's army, sent by his Scholai captain Cyrilus.
In 26 B.E, Arno's army again set out further east to do battle with the powerful Rasanids. The Mykran campaign would initially be a vast success, the army made it all the way to Essenia, the emperor's birthplace, before word came of a Rasanid response arriving from the east. Arriving with an army numbering some 50,000, this dwarfed Arno's army of some 10,000-15,000 and so a fortifying of Rhaesia was made and cities were properly garrisoned with the provincial capital of Gordianum being occupied by Arno himself. The defense of Gordianum would be fierce, every inch of the walls would come under attack, and in some cases even be breached. However, the stout defenses and expert planning of the defenders won them a victory in the old city of Gordian, and the Rasanids were forced to withdraw due to harassment of their supply lines by forces led by Cyrilus.
At the end of the year 21 B.E, Arno sat in control of all of Lakia, Agirhenia, and Mykra. His victory at Gordianum earned him another triumph in his return to the capital. By 19 B.E, Arno again would set out for war, this time against the northern Marvingians, and Hasdinians. The plan was beyond audacious, seeking to lure this alliance of powerful Herodi kingdoms would be extremely difficult but Arno trusted the experience of his men and his own competency. An engagement was planned, near the village of Turon, a combined army of the Rasennans with their Hedbard and Leutrburg allies would utterly crush the Marvingians and Hasdinans in a brilliant maneuver sending the empire into joyous acclaim.
Turon would be Arno's crowning achievement, his victory there would temporarily force the Hasdinians and Marvingians into federate status and clear the way west towards Hasdulia, where Arno planned on turning on his flimsy alliance with the Leutrburgs and retake Galukia from them. The Leutrburgs had arrived late at Turon and made a ruckus quarreling with Hedbards and imperial troops alike, they officially broke ties with both after Turon and retreated with loot back to Hasdulia. This was used as justification and Arno rallied his tired army and his Hedbard allies to service once more and marched west intent on another campaign of reconquest. This would initially go well, a skirmish ended in victory at Saravola but this would be the last battle of Arno's reign.
Arno had finally pushed his men to their limit, some nearing 40 years of warfare at this point. It is not known when, but a conspiracy reached the ears of Arno's 2nd in command Cyrilus, Cyrilus had great sway in the ranks and also seems to have been tempted by the rhetoric of irritated Lakic nobles calling for Arno's head. It isn't known what motivated him, but Cyrilus organized the assassination of his emperor. On the night of the ides of Marce, 15 B.E Arno retired to his tent, only to be met with daggers by his own guardsmen. Initially coming upon the emperor with daggers, Arno had disarmed the first man but was stabbed in the back by another. After this display, Arno's assassins overpowered him, stabbing him repeatedly despite fierce resistance coming from the emperor. At the end of the violence, Arno was apparently berated by his assassins and told of their motivations for betraying him. However, some of the older men seem to have pitied their former commander and told him through tearful eyes that they simply wished to go home. Eventually, Cyrilus stepped forward, dagger in hand and like an actor supposedly spoke "Deíte pós pethaínei o Týrannos" or "See how the Tyrant dies" to which Arno famously replied,
"O Týrannos? Vlépo móno tin aftokratoría mou na pethaínei"
"The Tyrant? I only see my empire die".
Plunging his dagger into the emperor's heart, Arno bled to death in his own tent and his assassins paraded his body for the whole army to see. Cyrilus intended for the troops to acclaim him emperor, but Arno's army stood sullen and silent before they quietly reclaimed Arno's body and marched home to Rasca where they buried him alongside his father Mathias at their family crypt. Some did not stand by and let the traitors leave their midst. Once such contingent of Hedbard auxiliaries led by Syarius Harthaius captured the fleeing Cyrilus and killed him themselves as recompense for the death of their emperor.
Arno's assassination would be the final time the empire would be ruled by a strong, and powerful leader as after the empire would truly collapse, Arno's victories would not be enough to prevent the empire's fall from coming to pass and retribution would come 15 years later when Rasca was sacked by a united coalition of the empire's enemies. The empire fell on that day in 15 B.E and the world would soon follow with it when Rasca was destroyed and the world fell to the Dykairos.
Education
Likely tutored by academics and military instructors at the expense of his influential father
Employment
Cavalry commander in the service of his father during the reconquest of Hakkadia
Emperor of the Rasennan Empire
Emperor of the Rasennan Empire
Accomplishments & Achievements
Aided in his father's reconquest of Hakkadia
Wrested control from his father's assassins
Defeated a Yarmeza raiding force in northern Lakia
Reconquered Agrihenia and defeated the Yarmeza bringing them to federate status
Expelled the Rasanids and reconquered Mykra
Great victory at Turon against the Marvingians and Hasdinians, temporarily bringing them to federate status
Victory against the Leutrburgs at Saravola
Wrested control from his father's assassins
Defeated a Yarmeza raiding force in northern Lakia
Reconquered Agrihenia and defeated the Yarmeza bringing them to federate status
Expelled the Rasanids and reconquered Mykra
Great victory at Turon against the Marvingians and Hasdinians, temporarily bringing them to federate status
Victory against the Leutrburgs at Saravola
Intellectual Characteristics
Charismatic
Shrewd
Inventive
Shrewd
Inventive
Morality & Philosophy
The Empire of old can be Reborn
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Restore the Empire to its proper strength
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Expert tactician, strategist and logistician
Skilled diplomat and politican
Skilled diplomat and politican
Virtues & Personality perks
Charismatic
Idealistic
Motivated
Capable
Idealistic
Motivated
Capable
Vices & Personality flaws
Overeager
Trusting
Naive
Demanding
Trusting
Naive
Demanding
Social
Reign
Reigned from 32 B.E - 15 B.E
Family Ties
Only son of Emperor Petrus Mathias and Rhea Panifora
Social Aptitude
Known as a skilled and inspiring orator, Arno spoke in a grandiose and inspiring manner while maintaining ties with the rank and file soldiers whom he had once commanded under his father. Personally, the emperor was quite demanding but just in his ethics and could often shed the aura of imperial might to reveal a deeply intune man capable of kindness, generosity and truthfulness.
Speech
Arno's first language was Mykran, under academics in his early years he first learned Lakic and later in life during his late adolescence he learned basic Hasdinian.
Religions
Ethnicity
Other Ethnicities/Cultures
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Imperator, Dominus, Autocrat of the Rasenna, Faithful Emperor of the People, Lord of all the World, the Pious, the Loyal, and most August under God.
Date of Birth
14th of Laris
Date of Death
15th of Marce
Life
51 B.E
15 B.E
36 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Only son of Emperor Mathias and his wife Rhea, born in Essenia before its fall to the Rasanids
Circumstances of Death
Assassinated in his camp at the foothills of Mazken Mandea
Birthplace
Essenia, Rhaesseos
Place of Death
Mazken Mandea, Northeastern Hasdulia
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Large, Green
Hair
Blond, Wavy
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tan
Height
6'3
Weight
215 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"I only see my empire die."
Belief/Deity
The Pankomisa Ecclesia
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Mykran
Hasdinian
(Arno's father, Emperor Mathias conquered Hakkadia and eastern Hasdulia before being assassinated)
(Junius Cyrilus, Captain of the Scholai and chief assassin of Arno)
(Arno and his senior commanders during the Agrihenian campaign)
(Arno's mercenary Beihan cavalrymen who routinely plundered and looted towns on campaign)
(Arno's Hedbard foederati troops, notably under command of Syarius Harthaius)
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