Pompus Rosmardius, The Rose King
"His ambitions were many, had he lived but a few more years, Rosarug would have ruled all of Kevica." -Rosarug's Emperor on Pompus
"He was strange for a Rosari, practically a man of a different world just wearing their colors really. He didn't worship their gods, he didn't like their patrons or culture, he didn't even speak their language very well. Yet, of all of this, I'd call him the last true Rosari there is." -Crent, Otterfolk slave and companion of Pompus

Despite the many tales and propaganda spread about Pompus, he was not in fact Rosari, but he was born in the heartlands of the country. He was born to peasants in Calosia, but was adopted into a powerful Patron's family at a young age when his father impressed upon the patron during a visit in his home country. Pompus grew up in the core heartland of Rosarug, learning it's customs, culture, and religion but never truly adopting any of it as his own. He joined the army during a failed invasion into Roasam where he survived just barely, but having led fellow soldiers out of an ambush saw him become a centurion of a Calosian garrison. Pompus continued to impress on his superiors and his adoptive father, eventually becoming an officer to a general, and eventually outgrew his previous command when he took the reign of forces and led a stunning victory against a Curdan army.

Pompus had many grand ambitions, and being a generation above the days of the 3rd Wendigo March, he had looked north to the lands of the Beastfolk states and it's divided realms. Without orders, Pompus led an incursion into the lands to aid the Cusnovans, a smaller and friendly realm whose Beastfolk nobles sought closer ties with the empire. Pompus led a brutal and bloody campaign, beginning the first Rosari-Beastfolk war which would see major strides in conquering all the way to the northern coasts and forging a mega state out of Cusnova and as a domain for Pompus to rule. The Cusnovans gave onto Pompus many titles, such as Great Warlord, a title he proudly displayed whenever speaking to Beastfolk emissaries. Yet, the strangest gift he received was a otterfolk slave, a son of one of his enemies in the campaign, named Crent who would be his long standing companion in his future endeavors.

Pompus was strange by Rosari standards, being one of the few generals who were Illuminated. Although Illumination was attempting to be phased out by the empire, Pompus remained resolute in his faith despite the abominable action he would commit to spread the empire's influence. His ambitions were only tempered by his treatment of others, being also one of the few Rosari generals who didn't go half mad trying to enslave every non-Rosari they got their hands on. Pompus used diplomacy and guile to exploit the Rosarug senate and emperor to support his campaigns, and his success saw him earn many enemies and friends in his homeland. However, to curb his ambitions, the Cusnovans turned their back on Pompus to become a colony of Rosarug instead, a machination of it's emperor at the time to prevent Pompus from continuing to bother the Beastfolk states.

Not to be deterred, Pompus would begin preparing for his next great campaign, but this time into Empara Curdia. In order to fulfill his wishes, he attempted to get into politics but found himself blocked by powerful families who did not wish to see him gain further power. Pompus would quite famously bother and bully the Rosarug emperor into giving him a triumph, which he used to start his political career which saw him win a landslide victory. Despised by the powerful factions within the Rosarug senate, Pompus set up his own and gained supporters for a new imperial policy of expanding and aggressively combating the Rosari's enemies with their impressive armies. Pompus's greatest political victory would become known as the Ransom Codes, setting up new military regulations and stronger payment for Rosarug's legions along with promises of giving soldiers land, but more importantly giving all 'extinct and previous titles' to conquerers. This gave greater legitimacy to the Rosarug emperor who was pleased, but rightful concern to other noble families who worried about Pompus's plans.

Pompus was charged by the next Rosarug emperor to lead a campaign against Empara Curdia, a task he likely had a hand in forcing himself. Pompus would lead one of the most successful and dramatic campaigns into the 'borderlands' of Empara Curdia, conquering vast swathes of the empire in his wake. Yet, much to the anger of his many enemies, Pompus treated the Illuminated Curdans with considerable respect, even allowing the Curia Emperor to go back to his lands out of respect for the Blood of Heroes. Pompus's most controversial action was allowing the Illuminated Church to guide him and his armies, and his armies even took upon their shields the sun burst of Illumination. Pompus carved out a vast new realm, and somewhat illegally declared himself governor of his grand domain where he and his kin would set up in as its rulers. Despite his many legendary deeds and countless victories, Pompus would perish in a rather odd way. After conquering the ancient capital of Empara Curdia for a brief time, Pompus wanted to prove to his superstitious soldiers that the fields surrounding the city were not cursed. As Pompus sat in the field, gleeful and happy, he had a sudden heart attack and died, thus ending his indomitable campaign.

Pompus left behind a complex legacy, in life his arrogance was quite legendary and in death his legacy was made to be god like by his close family. The Rosmardius family still ruled the governorship of Rosmardum, who spent decades trying to keep his legend alive. Rosmardum is an Illuminated country, who does not enforce the brutal paganifcation as is seen in the core lands of the empire. The country is also one of the few Rosari ruled realms not as reliant on slavery as a core part of its culture and economy. Pompus is respected as a great military leader and his name is still praised in much of country, and his many naysayers and detractors were often looked unfavorably upon for denying his ambitions. Yet, his one final act was perhaps the strangest, and quite specific. Upon the reading of his will, there had been only one request, to free his slave Crent and to give him passage to Kerkia, and for Crent to take his ashes to the Word Scribed Rock to be released on holy ground. Sadly, neither of these demands were given, with Pompus's children making sure his body was deterred in a cathedral in their new capital and for Crent to remain in their service till he too had passed.