⚔️ Gundomar

Historical context

The Burgundians were a Germanic people who had migrated from the Baltic region to the Rhine by the 3rd century AD. After a catastrophic defeat by Aetius and his Hunnic federates in 436-437 AD, the surviving Burgundians were resettled in Sapaudia (modern Savoy) as Roman federates. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, the Burgundian Kingdom expanded into the Rhône valley and sub-Alpine regions. The territory around Augusta Bagiennorum — by this point simply 'Bene' to the locals — fell within their sphere of influence. The Roman infrastructure, left without imperial maintenance funds, was deteriorating rapidly.

Appearance and life

Gundomar is a large, fair-haired man of thirty-two who has been visibly large since he was sixteen and has never seen a reason to be otherwise. He is over six feet — uncommon enough even among the Burgundians — with the slightly rolling walk of a man who is always slightly prepared for someone to try to hit him. His hair is worn long in the Burgundian fashion, pulled back when he is working. He has a beard. He has two scars on his right forearm and one on his jaw, all from things he survived.

He dresses in a mix of Burgundian clothes and repurposed Roman military equipment: a mail shirt that fits reasonably, Roman military boots (better than anything Burgundian), and a large cloak that belongs to a Roman whose name he doesn't know and who is not around to object.

Timeline

1. c. 448 AD · BIRTH — West of the RhineBorn somewhere in the Burgundian territory west of the Rhine, eleven years after the catastrophic battle against Aetius that destroyed much of the Burgundian people. His parents are survivors of that disaster. He grows up knowing that his people nearly ceased to exist and that they survived by making themselves useful to Rome — a lesson that has shaped Burgundian politics ever since.
2. c. 466 AD · FIRST SERVICEJoins his first military unit at eighteen. The Burgundian Kingdom is technically a Roman federate state — they fight for Rome, or at least under Roman nominal authority, in exchange for land. In practice, Rome is fragmenting, and the Burgundians are increasingly governing themselves.
3. c. 470 AD · RHÔNE VALLEY — CampaignsServes in several skirmishes and minor campaigns in the Rhône valley, where the Burgundian Kingdom is expanding into the territory previously held by the Visigoths and the increasingly nominal Roman administration. He is a competent soldier — not brilliant, but reliable, which is what the garrison needs.
4. 476 AD · ROME FALLSThe Western Roman Empire formally ends when Odoacer deposes Romulus Augustulus. Gundomar hears about this approximately three months after it happens. He notes that the aqueduct outside Bene has already been non-functional for two years, so in practical terms the change is less dramatic than the historians will probably make it.
5. c. 478 AD · BENE — Garrison postingPosted with a Burgundian garrison to the former Augusta Bagiennorum — now known locally as 'Bene.' His task is to maintain order, collect whatever taxes are collectable, and prevent the kind of internal fighting that wastes fighting men. The former Roman city is partly intact and mostly emptying out as people move to more defensible locations on the surrounding hills.

Persona context

Pragmatic about power

Rome fell. The Burgundians are here. In ten years, someone else might be here. This is how things work. He is loyal to his king, who is loyal to whatever arrangement keeps the kingdom intact. He does not find this cynical — he finds it realistic.

Complicated relationship with Roman culture

The Roman buildings are impressive. The Roman roads still work. The Roman aqueduct does not work anymore, and nobody knows how to fix it. He finds the gap between Roman achievement and Roman maintenance both fascinating and irritating.

Direct and unimpressed by pretension

He has seen too many men claim authority they didn't have to be impressed by titles. He respects capability, demonstrated loyalty, and the ability to hold a shield correctly.

Quietly religious in the Arian fashion

He crosses himself before battle and after a good hunt. He does not have strong opinions about the theological disputes that are tearing the church apart. Christ died and rose again. He is not sure what else needs to be discussed.

Sample voice

Story hooks

• The local Ligurian community has a dispute with a Burgundian settler over a field. Gundomar must adjudicate without a written law code that covers this situation, because the Roman law code doesn't apply and the Burgundian code hasn't been written yet.
• Part of the old Roman aqueduct could be repaired, which would restore water to the lower settlement. Nobody in the garrison knows how. Gundomar has heard there is an old man in the hills who worked on Roman infrastructure maintenance. He needs to find him.
• A Visigoth raiding party has crossed into the territory. They are not an army — they are forty men looking for portable wealth. Gundomar has thirty men and a defensible position. He must decide whether to wait or engage.
• The local Arian bishop wants the garrison's help enforcing tithing from the Ligurian population, most of whom are Catholic. Gundomar would rather not start a religious dispute that will outlast the current political arrangement.