Modagni
King of all the Areuls (Rí na nArúl uile) Modagni
The rebel leader and uniter of the various Areul tribes against Lucius Decimus Kotta and his chief opponent during the later part of the Areul Wars. Famous for his victory at Sedullo as well as his final defeat at Turasio. Modagni's defiant execution after years of imprisonment in Rasca led to him becoming a hero to the Areuls in the centuries after his death and till the present day.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Sturdy and a capable warrior, Modagni was respected as a talented strategist and a skilled tactician during his war with Kotta he made great use of his mind more than his capabilities on the field of battle. Nevertheless, he led his people in battle personally and showed tremendous courage and skill in the fighting at Sedullo and finally at Turasio.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Supposedly the son of a chieftain of the Gervinii tribe of modern Archeau, much of the early life of Modagni is unknown and either lost or prone to conjecture and guesses. Modagni only comes into the picture of the conflict between the Areuls and Kotta when he is said to have begun undermining Autarites, the selected Areul chieftain who had been leading the war effort against Kotta for some time. Once Modagni was able to secure the goodwill of the other tribes, he made alliances with them, and in doing so he united Areul under the pretense of escaping incoming Rasennan rule. After having been given supreme command of their armies, he imposed his authority through harsh discipline and the taking of hostages. Leadership and unification on this level were unprecedented in Areul and would not happen again for many decades when Caius Macsen attempted to throw off the Rasennan yoke once and for all.
Modagni was successful in his adoption of a policy centering on retreating to natural fortifications and undertaking a general scorched earth strategy by burning towns to prevent the Rasennan legions from living off the land. Modagni scorched much of the land marching north with his army from his headquarters at the town of Curantes in an attempt to deprive Kotta of the resources and safe haven of the towns and villages Kotta had been making wide usage of for scouting and supplies.
However, with pleas by the Abienii tribe in his ear, Modagni decided against razing the populated center at Abiena and instead sent men to reinforce the garrison there as well as as many builders as he could spare to reinforce the already strong man-made defenses there. When Kotta arrived at the walls of the city, he was forced to dig in for a siege that would be grueling and last nearly a month in which constant rainfall made the ground boggy and soaked. When the battered and beleaguered legionaries breached the walls of Abiena, they set about slaughtering the city of nearly 40,000 people, an estimated 80 people were thought to have escaped the city alive.
The defeat at Abiena was not the disaster that it could have been as Modagni scouted thoroughly the route of Kotta's army and laid a trap for him near the town of Sedullo. The Allieri tribe had been Rasennan allies and implored Kotta to remain in Areul through the winter to better protect them from the rebels. Leaving two legions behind to guard the remainder of the Rasennan food, Kotta set out with nearly six legions toward Sedullo where Modagni waited anxiously with a strong army of his own, waiting for battle. What Kotta did not know is that the Allieri had been bribed by Modagni to desert the Rasenna and join in his attack and as such, Allieri scouts led the Rasenna through a meandering path that was suitable for an ambush. The Battle of Sedullo would be an Areul victory as Rasennan legionaries were spread thinly through the winding path and were able to be picked off by Areul javelins and arrow fire. Of the six legions that Kotta commanded, a force of nearly 40,000 men, nearly 2,500 would be killed in the ambush and many more would be wounded.
This was not a decisive disaster but the Rasenna had been battered by a skillfully laid ambush by Modagni. Kotta however, was unshaken and mustered his remaining legions, and marched in a fury to the Areul stronghold of Turasio. Turasio would be the greatest victory in Lucius Decimus Kotta's career and would bring an end to major engagements between Areuls and the Rasenna. Despite his own probing attacks made against the Rasenna who had besieged the city, Modagni was unable to make contact with the defenders of Turasio and as such, unable to formulate a combined assault on Kotta's men. When Kotta took the city, Modagni knew his war was lost and bid his people to surrender their arms and make peace with their new occupiers. Modagni himself rode out and surrendered personally to Kotta who imprisoned him back in Rasca.
Modagni's imprisonment in Rasca was drawn out due to the civil war between Kotta and his enemy Rabirius. Eventually, after Kotta's victory, Modagni was removed from his cell and was the prime captive in Kotta's long-delayed triumph for his conquest of Areul. During the triumph, Modagni, refusing to stand for Kotta, was garroted where he sat and died at the stairs of the Temple of Manus. Modagni's body was thrown into the Sacris and his helmet and sword were taken as relics and displayed proudly in the Curia and later Imperial Palace of the Marian dynasty during the Principate period. These relics were later lost during the Amelliae era when the construction of the Amelliae Palace on the Laterian was completed. Despite little documentation about him, the towering figure of Modagni stands still in the memory of those who consider the ancient Areuls their ancestors. Modagni's image and visage have graced coins, columns and his example has been used time and again for those who wish to throw off the chains of their oppressors. Modagni is considered a great hero of the Areul people and among their most respected leaders for his defiant leadership against the Rasennan war machine. The famous Areul quote of "Buaidh no Bàs" or Victory or Death, is attributed to him and famously was chosen as the epitaph for the famous Gwerin rebel Dafyd Mefredeal.
Modagni was successful in his adoption of a policy centering on retreating to natural fortifications and undertaking a general scorched earth strategy by burning towns to prevent the Rasennan legions from living off the land. Modagni scorched much of the land marching north with his army from his headquarters at the town of Curantes in an attempt to deprive Kotta of the resources and safe haven of the towns and villages Kotta had been making wide usage of for scouting and supplies.
However, with pleas by the Abienii tribe in his ear, Modagni decided against razing the populated center at Abiena and instead sent men to reinforce the garrison there as well as as many builders as he could spare to reinforce the already strong man-made defenses there. When Kotta arrived at the walls of the city, he was forced to dig in for a siege that would be grueling and last nearly a month in which constant rainfall made the ground boggy and soaked. When the battered and beleaguered legionaries breached the walls of Abiena, they set about slaughtering the city of nearly 40,000 people, an estimated 80 people were thought to have escaped the city alive.
The defeat at Abiena was not the disaster that it could have been as Modagni scouted thoroughly the route of Kotta's army and laid a trap for him near the town of Sedullo. The Allieri tribe had been Rasennan allies and implored Kotta to remain in Areul through the winter to better protect them from the rebels. Leaving two legions behind to guard the remainder of the Rasennan food, Kotta set out with nearly six legions toward Sedullo where Modagni waited anxiously with a strong army of his own, waiting for battle. What Kotta did not know is that the Allieri had been bribed by Modagni to desert the Rasenna and join in his attack and as such, Allieri scouts led the Rasenna through a meandering path that was suitable for an ambush. The Battle of Sedullo would be an Areul victory as Rasennan legionaries were spread thinly through the winding path and were able to be picked off by Areul javelins and arrow fire. Of the six legions that Kotta commanded, a force of nearly 40,000 men, nearly 2,500 would be killed in the ambush and many more would be wounded.
This was not a decisive disaster but the Rasenna had been battered by a skillfully laid ambush by Modagni. Kotta however, was unshaken and mustered his remaining legions, and marched in a fury to the Areul stronghold of Turasio. Turasio would be the greatest victory in Lucius Decimus Kotta's career and would bring an end to major engagements between Areuls and the Rasenna. Despite his own probing attacks made against the Rasenna who had besieged the city, Modagni was unable to make contact with the defenders of Turasio and as such, unable to formulate a combined assault on Kotta's men. When Kotta took the city, Modagni knew his war was lost and bid his people to surrender their arms and make peace with their new occupiers. Modagni himself rode out and surrendered personally to Kotta who imprisoned him back in Rasca.
Modagni's imprisonment in Rasca was drawn out due to the civil war between Kotta and his enemy Rabirius. Eventually, after Kotta's victory, Modagni was removed from his cell and was the prime captive in Kotta's long-delayed triumph for his conquest of Areul. During the triumph, Modagni, refusing to stand for Kotta, was garroted where he sat and died at the stairs of the Temple of Manus. Modagni's body was thrown into the Sacris and his helmet and sword were taken as relics and displayed proudly in the Curia and later Imperial Palace of the Marian dynasty during the Principate period. These relics were later lost during the Amelliae era when the construction of the Amelliae Palace on the Laterian was completed. Despite little documentation about him, the towering figure of Modagni stands still in the memory of those who consider the ancient Areuls their ancestors. Modagni's image and visage have graced coins, columns and his example has been used time and again for those who wish to throw off the chains of their oppressors. Modagni is considered a great hero of the Areul people and among their most respected leaders for his defiant leadership against the Rasennan war machine. The famous Areul quote of "Buaidh no Bàs" or Victory or Death, is attributed to him and famously was chosen as the epitaph for the famous Gwerin rebel Dafyd Mefredeal.
Employment
King of the Gervinii
King of all Areuls
King of all Areuls
Accomplishments & Achievements
United the scattered Areul tribes in defiance of Rasennan invasion
Secured a victory at Sedullo
Secured a victory at Sedullo
Failures & Embarrassments
Defeated at the Battle of Turasio
Surrendered, imprisoned and killed by the Rasenna
Surrendered, imprisoned and killed by the Rasenna
Morality & Philosophy
Victory or Death
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Defend his people from Rasennan encroachment, safeguard their freedom and unite them under a single ruler
Virtues & Personality perks
Decisive
Shrewd
Logistical
Brave
Compromising
Shrewd
Logistical
Brave
Compromising
Vices & Personality flaws
Cautious
Deceptive
Untrustworthy
Callous
Deceptive
Untrustworthy
Callous
Social
Religious Views
The religion of the Areuls was often prone to exaggeration by Rasennan scholars who took the time to even examine it. A pantheon of gods dominated Areul life and many would come and go throughout the long years of Areul habitation of their land. Chief among Areul gods was Caradog, a common king of the gods and a figure often associated with the deep forest and greenery while also being a wild god of justice and peace. Modagni himself was often associated with the diety Lerus, the Areul god of war and a figure which over time, Modagni would come to be used instead. During the Great Revolt, Caius Macsen would mint coins depicting Lerus on one side and a visage of Modagni on the other with the words, "Tá díoltas ag Modagni, Rí na nAreul uile, faoi dheireadh trí ghníomhartha Macsen" or "Modagni, King of all Areuls, finally has his revenge by the deeds of Macsen".
Social Aptitude
Known to have been a more heavy-handed ruler than the Areuls were used to as he forced conscription and surrendering of food stocks to his army. Modagni must have been a very persuasive man in order to force the freedom-loving Areuls to surrender so much of their freedom in aiding his war effort against the Rasenna. He also shows tremendous bravery in personally surrendering to Kotta instead of simply killing himself after his defeat. Modagni's surrender is thought to have saved the lives of many of his men as the Rasenna had the figurehead of the rebellion in chains and reprisal attacks on the Areul population were very rare in the years after the wars.
(Modagni rallies the Areuls to war)
(Modagni throws down his weapons and surrenders to Kotta)
Ethnicity
Life
901 B.E
865 B.E
36 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born the son of a chief of the Oppiani tribe of the Areuls
Circumstances of Death
Garroted to death at the steps to the Temple of Manus in Rasca
Birthplace
Unknown
Place of Death
Rasca, Lakia
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark Green
Hair
Reddish Long Hair and mustache
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
White
Height
5'9
Weight
170 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"We take no heed from the birds of the south, our people as one, formed into a single nation, brought together in common spirit, can defy all the world. "
Belief/Deity
Caradog and the Areul Pantheon
Lakic
Old Herodi
Character Prototype
Vercingetorix
Comments