The Ruburum (Rube-uh-rum)
The tale of the unknown red soldier and their heroics at the Bridge Aureum and duel against King Lars Equius during the First Siege of Rasca.
Summary
At the onset of the Republic of the Rasenna, the newly founded government faced many who wished to stamp out the notions of the Republic, to bring down the walls of the new city, salt their fields, and eradicate the memory of Rasca from the world. In this time, a challenger arose in the form of King Lars Equius of the Commestanii tribe, victory knew it had a champion in King Lars and his war machine destroyed and brought chains to dozens of cities in Lakia before the King set his eyes on the poor Rasenna. The people of Rasca had expelled their last King Horatio, from the city and proclaimed the Republic. Drawing cause at the deposition of a fellow monarch, King Lars prepared his army to take Rasca and reinstall Horatio to his throne. King Lars invaded and easily swept away an army sent from the city to stop him and came to the city to besiege and take it. King Lars' siege sapped the strength of the city's garrison and their commander felt compelled to surrender until he was rebuked by a mysterious soldier who compelled his fellow citizens to take up arms and properly defend their city. On the fourteenth day of the siege, King Lars assaulted the walls of Rasca, being unable to scale the walls he instead went to the sacred gate and it seemed as though he would break through and ransack the city indeed.
When the Commestanii breached the gate they found but a single soldier standing between them and their pillaging, this lone soldier who would eternally be known as the Ruburum, stood between the horde and the great city with his sword and shield in hand preparing to meet his fate at the end of the enemy's blade. The Ruburum challenged the lesser men to duel and each barbarian who faced the warrior's blade met cold steel as their answers and soon they grew fearful of the divine blade of this red soldier drenched in the blood of his slain enemies. Soon the Ruburum had raised the morale of his people and while the soldiery watched in amazement, the citizens of the great city rose together brandishing their blades or taking them from nearby soldiers. At the call of the Ruburum, the citizens of Rasca stormed from their homes, from their shops and from their temples and charged into the lines of the Commestanii who overwhelmed with terror fled back to their encampments, cowering in fear away from the sun as they feared even their shadows. King Lars was humiliated and saddled on his steed he challenged this Ruburum to duel, wishing to turn the tide of the day. At dusk, the whole city and army of the Commestanii watched as King Lars and this hero met on the Field of Marele and as the vile King shouted and mocked the efforts of the Ruburum, the soldier unsheathed his sword still red from his many victories during the day. The duel was like lightning, one moment the King boasted and the next his hands were at his throat as he choked and spat red before collapsing dead. Like previously in the day, the Ruburum waved his red sword and shouted for the Commestanii to face him but they fled from the city and returned to their own lands shivering and crying with dread for the ghostly red death of Rasca had killed so many alone that he must be the god of war himself. The Ruburum does not reappear after the retreat of the Commestanii, some say he changed from his armour and disappeared back into the mob, some others say he died that day in the fields after saving his city. No matter what happened, the tale of the red soldier was remembered by all that day and stories of his mighty sword arm brought comfort to many a soldier in the coming centuries as the great city brought its greatness to the edges of the world.
When the Commestanii breached the gate they found but a single soldier standing between them and their pillaging, this lone soldier who would eternally be known as the Ruburum, stood between the horde and the great city with his sword and shield in hand preparing to meet his fate at the end of the enemy's blade. The Ruburum challenged the lesser men to duel and each barbarian who faced the warrior's blade met cold steel as their answers and soon they grew fearful of the divine blade of this red soldier drenched in the blood of his slain enemies. Soon the Ruburum had raised the morale of his people and while the soldiery watched in amazement, the citizens of the great city rose together brandishing their blades or taking them from nearby soldiers. At the call of the Ruburum, the citizens of Rasca stormed from their homes, from their shops and from their temples and charged into the lines of the Commestanii who overwhelmed with terror fled back to their encampments, cowering in fear away from the sun as they feared even their shadows. King Lars was humiliated and saddled on his steed he challenged this Ruburum to duel, wishing to turn the tide of the day. At dusk, the whole city and army of the Commestanii watched as King Lars and this hero met on the Field of Marele and as the vile King shouted and mocked the efforts of the Ruburum, the soldier unsheathed his sword still red from his many victories during the day. The duel was like lightning, one moment the King boasted and the next his hands were at his throat as he choked and spat red before collapsing dead. Like previously in the day, the Ruburum waved his red sword and shouted for the Commestanii to face him but they fled from the city and returned to their own lands shivering and crying with dread for the ghostly red death of Rasca had killed so many alone that he must be the god of war himself. The Ruburum does not reappear after the retreat of the Commestanii, some say he changed from his armour and disappeared back into the mob, some others say he died that day in the fields after saving his city. No matter what happened, the tale of the red soldier was remembered by all that day and stories of his mighty sword arm brought comfort to many a soldier in the coming centuries as the great city brought its greatness to the edges of the world.
Historical Basis
The siege of Rasca by King Lars Equius of the Commestanii seems to have some validity as the Commestanii were one of many Lakic tribes conquered in the early days of the Republic. Whether or not this King Lars was killed besieging Rasca or even if he was killed at all are lost to us now over a thousand years after their occurrence.
Spread
Told for generations after by witnesses of the siege, the memory of the Ruburum faded with the passing of the Republic and soon less and less knew the tale of the great hero of the city.
Cultural Reception
Tales of the Ruburum persisted throughout much of the Republic's lifespan as the story brought comfort and motivation to the soldiers of the Republic that if they aspired to the bravery of this lone soldier they would be remembered forever.
In Literature
The account of the Ruburum is brought to us through various stories and references of it in later Rasennan writings. Most of the information was written by a Rasennan author named Avitus Sesibolas who was a popular story teller in his day and drew from oral histories he heard of as inspiration for his tales.
(The Ruburum defends the Aula, hailed by victory)
Date of First Recording
~450's B.E
Date of Setting
~960's B.E
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