Gaius Maedia
Grand Praetor-Generalus Gaius Maedia (a.k.a. The Last Legate)
Physical Description
Facial Features
Gaius has hard, blocky features synonymous with the dwarves of Jeharr.
Identifying Characteristics
Gaius has severe scarring on the left side of his neck and on the left side of his head, from two wounds sustained during the Battle of Militas Hill. Gaius also has the names "Vernus," "Lia" and "Oathas" tattooed on the inside of his left forearm and an older tatoo that reads, "Actius, Shield my new brothers and sisters" in dwarven script on his right forearm.
Apparel & Accessories
Gaius wears his brother Vernus' Legate armor while performing his duties, despite previous Grand Praetor-Generaluses preferring lighter, more formal pieces. He always bears his Platinum wreath or the stand in used by Vernus when in battle dress. While Gaius maintains the dress code and representation of Prime in his attire that is expected of the Grand Praetor-Generalus, he also carries with him his Legion Captain issued shield and several markings from the Legion called "the Shield of Actius."
Mental characteristics
Personal history
The Maedia family is said to have moved down into Ackramor proper around 500 BBA during the reign of Empress Whitbottom. Following the acquisition of the Iorian territories north of The Spine, many enterprising Northern Dwarven families moved south in pursuit of opportunity. The Maedias were a family of warriors keen on the Ackramorian Academy Militas. For the past 500 years the Maedias have served the Empire of Ackramor faithfully and have been present for the majority of the battles and wars since the assimilation of the Iorian territories. Maedias have served the empire as great generals, warriors and advisers.
At the time of Gaius Maedia's birth, the Ackramorian Empire was a shell of its former self and was teetering on the edge of a nearly 100 year long plunge toward the greatest battle the world has ever seen. Before that, however, Gaius and his older brothers, Vernus and Oathas and his older sister, Lia all joined the Ackramorian Army, which was also struggling at the time. Gaius himself joined up at the ripe, young age of 48 in the year 47 BBA, he served in the all dwarf Legion commanded by his brother, Vernus, called The Shield of Actius where he achieved the rank of Legion Major and joined his brother's command staff. The Shield of Actius was present at a number of battles, including the 3rd Battle of the Break, the Battle of Bosmon Road, and the ill-fated Battle of Militas Hill.
In the last battle that he served with the Shield of Actius, the Battle of Militas Hill, the Shield of Actius defended the major Army strong point outside of Ackra against the armies of the rebellion in the year 3 BBA, lead by the infamous Iorian commander, Headtaker Argovaugn. The Academy Militas was not only a very defensible position, but it was also the spiritual home of the commissioned officers of the Imperial Army and Navy. Both Lia Maedia, Gaius' sister, and Vernas Maedia, perished at the battle along with the vast majority of the Shield of Actius and the other supporting forces at the battle. Gaius, a Legion Major at the time, was felled in the battle and was carried away from the battle by his remaining soldiers and brought into the capital city of Ackramor.
Gaius remained comatose for two years while the remaining holds and fortresses of the Empire were defeated or surrendered to the armies of the rebellion. Ackra had been cut off from its dependent territories and strongholds ever since the defeat of the empire at the Battle of Militas Hill, but the siege of Ackra had begun only one year earlier, in 2 BBA. Upon Gaius' recovery from his coma, he came to realize that, as the only remaining Major in his Legion, the Shield of Actius (which had been absorbed into the garrison of Ackra). Gaius also learned of the death of his brother, Vernas, meaning that Gaius had technically inherited his position as Legate of their depleted Legion. The two Generaluses present in the city had fled the city six mensis earlier as well as the Grand Praetor-Generalus. All that remained of the command staff in the capital city were two downtrodden and exhausted young Field Majors and lesser officers. Due to his new title as Legate, Gaius awoke to find the young Field Majors happy to hand over command to the experienced dwarf who was technically their superior.
Gaius, faced with the sudden and immense responsibility for the fate of the remainder of the empire which his family had built their legacy on, was struck with yet more terrible news. Gaius' last brother, Oathas, had been killed in battle by the armies of the rebellion. Gaius set about preparing the city's defense, rationing the vast but limited supplies within the capital, organizing the defenders that were available to him from the garrison and from units that had escaped total destruction. Gaius was, to the trapped soldiers of the empire, the very embodiment of the old glory of the Ackramorian Empire. Gaius was not only the last Maedia, he was the last Legate.
As the siege began to take its true toll on the heavily fortified city and its supplies and allies dwindled, more and more bureaucrats and elite members of Ackramorian society fled, leaving Gaius to take over their responsibilities as well. Gaius prepared to have his ward Evanlyn Vita, the child of an old friend of Gaius', sent off to flee the city like much of the populace had before being completely encircled and blockaded. Evanlyn told Gaius of a vision her father had had before his passing and staunchly refused to flee the city and leave Gaius and her whole life behind. Gaius knew that defeat was certain and he was determined to do what he could to protect Evanlyn, but her respected her wishes to stay where her father had been laid to rest, just like his own family.
The Battle of Ackra is the stuff of legends as Evanlyn found backers within the remaining Archclergy, from an elf named Berius and Gaius found himself commanding his forces alongside Evanlyn. Gaius had always known that Evanlyn was a smart girl and it seemed certain that the city would fall anyway, so Gaius took a chance on Evanlyn as his military education indicated to him that her plan was no more likely to result in defeat than remaining in the city and continuing to starve. The arrival of terrible ancient siege weapons indicated to Gaius that a final assault utilizing said weapons of mass death was imminent.
The Battle was a resounding victory for the waning empire as the defenders sallied forth, taking the besieging armies by surprise and routing them. All of the ancient weapons were destroyed or captured, the slow, lumbering undead masses were made irrelevant by the rapid attack of the remaining Ackramorian forces who siezed upon the unprepared controllers. From this moment, Gaius dedicated himself to advising and serving Evanlyn, whom he proudly proclaimed to be the Savior of Ackramor, and the next Empress. Immediately after the battle, Empress Evanlyn Vita invoked the will of Prime and reorganized the Ackramorian government, not that many remained to oppose her. One of Evanlyn Vita's first actions was to instate Gaius Maedia as the new Grand Praetor-Generalus.
In the years that have followed the empire has recovered under the reign of Empress Evanlyn Vita, although it now controls less than a fifth of the land area it once had claimed. Gaius has since been a leading figure in the wars to recover lost territory and is a fierce proponent of the reconquest of all previously Ackramorian territories, particularly the false Kingdom of Stonecrest.
During the events of the Second Coming of the End, the Final Hour, as they would come to be known, investigated possible betrayal among the members of the Imperial Assembly. Gaius was cleared of any charges and Berius Inquenius, the very elf that acknowledged and legitimized Evanlyn Vita's vision, was arrested on charges of corruption, treason, and heresy.
Gaius has been frustrated with the doctrine of Horizonguard and feels as though Stonecrest holds too much power given the volume of Stonecrest troops involved. Gaius worked with elements of Horizonguard in their joint effort to defeat the forces of Blair and Lech, but turned down the offer of authority over Horizonguard forces, believing that he would be ignored by Stonecrest contemporaries in the organization and that he belonged in Ackramor, commanding the Imperial Army.
Education
Gaius Maedia took a four year leave from service in the Legion called the Shield of Actius from the year 25 to 21 BBA and attended the Academy Militas outside of Ackra. He gained his four year military education degree. Most Maedia's preferred to take the Legion specific two year degree, but Gaius was a particularly gifted student of war and instead opted for the longer, more extensive military education.
Employment
Gaius Maedia has served in the Ackramorian Imperial Army since the year 47 BBA and has only taken leaves longer than a few mensis from 25 to 21 BBA and from 3 to 1 BBA. Gaius was promoted to Legion Corporal in the 44 BBA, to Legion Sergeant in 42 BBA, to Legion Captain in 37 BBA and to Legion Major in 25 BBA. Upon his recovery from an injury sustained in battle in 1 BBA, Gaius was field promoted to Legate and became the highest ranking officer that remained in Ackra at the time, and so assumed command of the garrison at Ackra. Following the Battle of Ackra, in the year zero ABA, Gaius was promoted by Empress Evanlyn Vita, invoking the will of Prime, God of Civilization, to the rank of Grand Praetor-Generalus of the Ackramorian Imperial Army. Gaius has served in this role ever since, and has never served as a Generalus.
Mental Trauma
Although it is not public knowledge, it is known to Gaius' closest confidants that he struggles with severe mental trauma from his decorated career in the Ackramorian Imperial Army. He often sees shadows of his brothers and sister whose deaths he can't help but feel he could have prevented. Gaius maintains a close relationship with his remaining family, specifically his now elderly parents and uncle. Gaius often claims to feel a sense of weight as being the last Maedia once his parents pass on.
He is said to spend long hours in contemplation away from any other contact, when asked, he will usually claim to have been "speaking with someone I haven't seen in a while."
Social
Religious Views
Gaius has maintained his faith in Prime, God of Civilization, through his worship of St. Actius and his tenants. Gaius himself is not as committed to his religious views, but upholds them feverishly in memory of his fallen brothers and sisters, both those bound by blood, and those bound by steel.
Relationships
History
Gaius was Evanlyn's guardian following her father's death and her earliest supporter during the Siege of Ackra. They have since relied heavily upon one another for handling matters of state and warfare and continue to to this very day.
Nicknames & Petnames
Evanlyn regularly refers to Gaius informally, although Gaius refuses to refer to Evanlyn as anything but "Empress" and "Your Highness" when in public or during matters of state. In private moments Gaius calls Evanlyn by her first name and "Lyn" and Evanlyn refers to Gaius as "Old Grump."
Alignment
Lawful Neutral
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Grand Praetor-Generalus of the Ackramorian Imperial Army
Currently Held Titles
Year of Birth
95 BBA
136 Years old
Birthplace
Ackra
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Ackra
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark brown
Hair
Long, dark brown
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Leathery tan
Height
4'5"
Weight
178 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"She's got the fire, the fire that I thought went out ages ago. The Gods follow every footfall she takes and so do I."
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments