Danwar
Augustus
Dumnonia, Turn 4: Census Dumnoniarum
The feast went as planned, and Ambrosius' position was all the stronger for it. The local peasants were pleased, the neighboring Brittonic lords respectful, and the Romanized urban dwellers that remained had a moment of celebration admist the chaos. Hope was beginning to return to his corner of the former Empire - but that was not to say all was well.
As the last of the attendees of his feast finally dispersed, Ambrosius came to realize how much quieter the town was with them absent. The forum, once abundant with trade and commerce from pilgrims or merchants, was nearly barren: the Baths, while still a social center, were in disrepair. Streets once abuzz with people were now nearly deserted. Aquae had never been a major city like Londinium or Camulodunum, but looking about him, he still realized that the once prosperius vicus had grown far smaller than the times he had visited it in his childhood, crumbling all around him. It was as if he was looking at the hollowed-out remnants of its past glory, and he could not help but silently mourn it.
In times like these, he felt as if he really was the Last of the Romans.
As he settled into the abandoned basilica in which he held court, it soon became all too clear to him that this crumbling was not exclusively physical. What few records he could find regarding the region were decades out of date, and much had changed since the last tax assessments he could find. If he was to govern this land as a Roman would, or indeed govern it at all, he would need to understand what resources he had at his disposal. As such, he appointed six trustworthy men, all of whom had served him well in the campaign at Bradonicus Mons and had proven themselves as reliable men. These men would ride out into Ambrosius' lands and make records of his holdings, allowing Ambrosius to make more informed and rapid decisions. This would be the first step toward restoring an administration over these lands. In the meantime, as these men took census of his holdings, Ambrosius would continue efforts to settle in as best he could.
The feast went as planned, and Ambrosius' position was all the stronger for it. The local peasants were pleased, the neighboring Brittonic lords respectful, and the Romanized urban dwellers that remained had a moment of celebration admist the chaos. Hope was beginning to return to his corner of the former Empire - but that was not to say all was well.
As the last of the attendees of his feast finally dispersed, Ambrosius came to realize how much quieter the town was with them absent. The forum, once abundant with trade and commerce from pilgrims or merchants, was nearly barren: the Baths, while still a social center, were in disrepair. Streets once abuzz with people were now nearly deserted. Aquae had never been a major city like Londinium or Camulodunum, but looking about him, he still realized that the once prosperius vicus had grown far smaller than the times he had visited it in his childhood, crumbling all around him. It was as if he was looking at the hollowed-out remnants of its past glory, and he could not help but silently mourn it.
In times like these, he felt as if he really was the Last of the Romans.
As he settled into the abandoned basilica in which he held court, it soon became all too clear to him that this crumbling was not exclusively physical. What few records he could find regarding the region were decades out of date, and much had changed since the last tax assessments he could find. If he was to govern this land as a Roman would, or indeed govern it at all, he would need to understand what resources he had at his disposal. As such, he appointed six trustworthy men, all of whom had served him well in the campaign at Bradonicus Mons and had proven themselves as reliable men. These men would ride out into Ambrosius' lands and make records of his holdings, allowing Ambrosius to make more informed and rapid decisions. This would be the first step toward restoring an administration over these lands. In the meantime, as these men took census of his holdings, Ambrosius would continue efforts to settle in as best he could.
Last edited:
