Marcus Basileios
Marcus Basileios, Prefect of the Mabean Marches. Medium Human Male.
Overview
Prefect Basileios of House Accius was granted his title some five years ago, but it took him three and a half years to finally arrive at Fort Umbrago with his family to assume his duties. He is still very much new at his occupation but he knows that, as the first of his House to attain the position of Prefect, he must succeed. The Prefect, to his credit, has already received a reputation for being an efficient, if sometimes charitable, ruler. Unfortunately, he has yet to learn the finer points of diplomacy and the more social aspects of rulership, but perhaps these qualities are not yet required of the ruler of the Mabean Marches.
It is known that the Prefect and Legate Belisarius have clashed several times over their disparate policies toward the native Mabeans. Prefect Basileios seeks reconciliation of the native populous, while Legate Belisarius instead seeks to control them through fear. Unfortunately, Legate Belisarius ruled the Marches for the decade it took the Senate to elect a Prefect, and his de facto rulership, particularly of the outlying territories, is under no threat from Prefect Basileios at this time. As the Prefect has legal right to rulership, however, the Legate’s power is slowly being eroded away as the Marches convert from a war-zone to a member of the Imperial community. None can truly predict what will happen between these two men. Neither are prone to rash action and both have a certain level of respect for the other, so a civil war is unlikely, but someone must step aside and permit the rulership of the other. Their disparate policies simply cannot co-exist.
Description
Basileios is healthy for a man well into his sixties. His dark, straight hair has only recently begun to gray at the temples and worry lines across his brow are deepening, but he is otherwise still strong and fit. He is somewhat uncomfortable in the presence of those he considers strangers, and will often avert his gaze, though he can be surprisingly forceful when something he holds dear is in question. Though he must wear his patrician’s robes when holding court, he will often be found in the clothing of a wealthy merchant when not conducting official duties. He is never found, however, without his new crown upon his head.
