In the year 214 of the Imperial calendar, the Sildorian Legions, by order of Empress Aurelia Alexandra Aluafaen of Sidoria, halted on the left bank of the River Sirgus ....
The Empress had decided to put an end, once and for all, to the barbarian threat from the north.
Before this approach, Empress Alexandra had drawn up a peace treaty, Pax Sildoriana. The text of this treaty included an agreement from the barbarians never to attack Sildorian lands, and a commitment that Sildorian forces would never cross the river - and also, an annual tribute in the form of gold, Sidorian slaves, and a favourable trade agreement, because the barbarians had furs that were highly valued in the Empire.
But the Empress also issued a second order: in the event that the barbarians did not accede to the treaty, the Legions were ordered to exterminate the barbarians completely, annihilatio completa. Following this order, the Empress's best legion, the Legio Prima Ferrea, was sent from Sildoria, ten thousand cavalry and infantry, equipped with Sildoria's most terrible weapon, the eternal fire of Sildor, a fire that could not be quenched by water - indeed water would only make it fiercer - and led by the Empress' favourite Legate, Marcus Ferro.
Together with the legion, the Empress sent her two favourite ambassadors, Marcia and Victoria, who were supposed to ensure the smooth progress of the agreement with the barbarians, they knew barbarian customs and traditions, and they also knew how strongly the barbarians desired gold: therefore, at the Empress's command, they also took with them a wagon loaded with jewels and gold of Sildor, and also wine for legionaries. These ambassadors were very popular with legionaries, many knew them from their travels.
When they had arrived at the banks of the River Sirgus, the legion began to set up a camp. The ambassadors decided that they would cross the river alone, and the legion at would wait for their return. The commander of the Legio Prima Ferrea, Marcus Ferrus, being no fool, insisted that the girls have an armed escort on their journey, and the girls had to agree. He was worried for them, but he also sent his scouts secretly after the girls, intended to map the terrain, estimate the number of barbarians, and find their camp - and if possible, protect the embassy.
The two girls, soon after crossing the river, encountered barbarian patrols, and, showing respect for the barbarian warriors, they asked for an audience with their king, but the barbarians replied that the king was dead, and that his daughter Ursa was the new queen. So they ordered them to wait at the meeting-place in the forest. The ambassadors agreed, they camped in the forest clearing, and awaited the arrival of the barbarian queen. But they had been tricked: for a long time nothing happened, and they were about to go to bed when barbarian attack came.
The barbarians had no interest in dealing with the ambassadors, all they wanted was gold, and revenge for their king's death. They approached the unsuspecting ambassadors and attacked them in overwhelming numbers. The armed Sildorian escort was soon overcome and all members of of the detachment were killed by the barbarians, but they captured the female ambassadors.. They tore off their clothes and began to beat them cruelly and rape them for general amusement, the girls screamed and begged for help and mercy..¨
The shocked scouts at firat wanted to intervene and save the girls, but when they saw the number of barbarians, they realised it would be suicidal, and without valuable intelligence the legion would be at a disadvantage in the fight, and could be defeated. So they had to do as commanded despite the enormous pain and anger they were feeling
The battered and frightened women were presented to a tall, savage-looking, yet very attractive brunette, wearing a horned helmet over her long hair, and a decorated wolf-skull - Ursa the barbarian queen!
'So the Empire wants peace? Huh? After they killed my beloved father? After their legions drove us up here, to the frozen north! After killing most of my people?! No! I will never make a deal with your fucking ruler. I will send a message to your Empress,' the queen smiled cruelly at the girls... 'Execute them! But I want it to be in their style.. whatever was it? Ah yes, I know - crucify them!'
The ambassadors were screaming in terror and disbelief, but the barbarians were only amused by their pleas and painful screams. They crucified the two girls, but to humiliate them as much as possible, they nailed their hands to old wooden logs, and set them on top of wooden stakes set up to form a palisade. On the remaining stakes they then stuck the heads of the soldiers from their entourage...
'Let us now pay homage to our ancestors! May they witness our actions! Tomorrow we invade their empire!'
But the invasion never happened.
The shocked and enraged scouts saw everything, they saw what the barbarians had done to the ambassadors, and they noted where they had their camp, and how many there were. Then they hurried back, and, exhausted after a long run and in tears, they reported everything to the Legion....
The Legion was well trained, excellently organized, and the fate of the ambassadors was certainly not a matter of indifference to them. They decided to attack the insolent barbarians at night - they had to let the ambassadors wait, but their sacrifice would help the Empire to victory. It was a difficult decision, but it had to to be done that way.
Late at night the barbarians were mostly completely drunk or asleep, while the rest were just having a lot of fun with the last painful movements, and the screams and cries, of the tortured, dying girls... but not for long...
The legionaries were shocked by the brutality and insolence of the barbarians: after all, ambassadors are untouchable, this rule is sacred, it is forbidden to harm ambassadors! This was the law of all the gods, even the barbarians had to follow it! The legionaries were longing for revenge, the ambassadors were very popular among the soldiers, and on the orders of their legate, they quietly began the murder and massacre, with enthusiasm. Without remorse, they lit fires, and set fire to the camp...
After a while the barbarians noticed the smoke and raised the alarm, but it was too late, the enraged legionaries were using the Sildorian Everlasting Fire, not only setting alight the barbarian camp, but the forest too, so they prevented the barbarians from escaping. They killed everyone they met. The proud queen Ursa, led by her most loyal warriors, tried to break through the cover and escape, but the legionaries were under orders to capture her alive. After a fierce fight, the queen was subdued. The legionaries killed all the barbarians without mercy, and took down the dying girls carefully, but, despite their best efforts and the skills of legionary doctors, they failed to save their lives. One breathed her last in the arms of the mourning Legate.
Enraged by their death, the Legate issued an order. 'Understand why our Empress is cruel. She is not cruel by nature, but is forced to cruelty, forced by barbaric acts like this one' So he read the order as commanded by the empress, 'Annihilatio completa, the barbarians are to be completely and utterly exterminated without mercy, not one must remain, never again must any rise against the Empire. This will be a harsh lesson to any others. And their queen, she will be watching. Thanks to our scouts, we know where barbarian towns and villages are located, and we shall attack them without warning!'
The legionaries killed everyone and everything they came across, men, women and children, young and old, cattle and all livestock, and they set fire to their crops and everything of value, poisoned the wells and the river, and burned the forest, while Queen Ursa watched everything with tears in her eyes and swore eternal revenge on Sildoria.
The Legate ordered the men of the legion to form an armed convoy, and to chain the queen and load her into a cage on a wagon with her two surviving warriors, the last of their people., and, together with the dead bodies of the noble ambassadors, they were to be transported to Sildoria, where the dead ambassadors were to be solemnly and gloriously buried as Sildorian heroines, and the barbarian queen was to be brought before the Empress herself, who would decide her fate.
Sildorian law in this case spoke clearly, for the enemies of the Empire there was only one punishment: public crucifixion!
