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BEHIND THE WALL

Prologue
They came. They saw. They conquered. The Romans wanted it all. They crushed whole societies
everywhere they went using peerless military force combined with skilful ruling expertise. Conquer,
subdue, plunder and tax; that was the prevailing strategy for building a sustainable empire for one
thousand years. The Gauls had given them a run for their money until Gaius Julius Caesar trampled
them down with the might of his ruthless legions. The Germanic tribes to their east proved more
difficult to subdue. Sweeping north and looking for new conquests, Julius Caesar crossed over into a
land across a narrow sea where he was intent on extending the power of Rome at the most
northerly reaches of its great empire.
The following century saw the Romans consolidating and extending their hold on Provincia Britannia
including an excursion into the Celtic lands to the cold north by the well-connected Roman General
Julius Agricola. He sent a fleet around the province to find that Britannia was, in fact, an island
territory. The discipline and superior tactics of his Roman legions were demonstrated in a crucial
battle with the Caledonians which resulted in the slaughter of 10,000 of their men for the loss of
fewer than 400 Roman soldiers. Even this setback didnt stop the marauding Celtic tribes from
harassing and haranguing the invaders throughout Caledonia and sometimes across the de facto
border to the south to plunder the more settled lands of Provincia Britannia. Following a visit by the
Emperor Hadrian to his outermost province, a great stone wall was built from east to west and coast
to coast across the bleak, desolate north Britannia moors in an attempt to stop these troublesome
incursions. It was known throughout the Roman empire as Hadrians Wall. As a defensive barrier, it
was an impressive sight but the barbarians still came across. Their bloody message was clear; we will
fight you to the very death before well surrender our land.
Despite its power, the vast Roman empire was constantly riddled with factional infighting and petty
jealousies among its ruling elite whose disputes occasionally broke out into messy civil wars. New
Emperors often sought early successes to consolidate their grip on power. So it was that, after the
death of the Emperor Hadrian, the war hero Quintus Lollius Urbicus become Governor of the
Provincia Britannia under the new Emperor Antonius Pius. His mission was clear; to push further
north beyond the great Hadrians Wall to conquer, once and for all, the troublesome Celtic tribes of
the land of Caledonia. This was a challenge to relish. Not only would its success result in an
Emperors gratitude but also might land the reward of a prized position in Rome itself. The might of
Romes latest Emperor was behind the new Governor and he would use it for all it was worth against
these so-called barbarians.

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