I can’t tell you enough how much I’m in love with igni ferroque. I’m so friggin hyped every time I see a new chapter out, and this definitely isn’t to pressure you or anything, but I was wondering if maybe you could drop a few legate astarion headcanons/info if that’s okay? For some reason I’ve always enjoyed the concept of a Roman legionnaire au astarion or even a gladiator version sounds cool. Idk, but thanks for bringing my fantasy to life <3
Oh thank you anon! I don't think I've ever received an ask like this, this was so fun to think about. igne ferroque is one my favourites too, sitting down to write it feels so perfectly self indulgent because I can just jam jamisms into every single paragraph and WHOOPS it's because this POV Gale has a poet's soul.
I could blab about Legate Astarion forever BUT I'll also be a little careful of spoilers since he's such a mystery to our dear priest protag. So here's a lil appetizer under the cut. (CWs are the same as the fic: period typical masculinity bullshit and I only have half a history degree so nobody @ me hahahaha, I'm mostly here for the sex swords and sandals <3)
Like many sons of real Roman emperors, he was adopted by Cazador alongside his other spawn brothers. Why adopt 4 sons and cause a succession crisis? The general masses think it a benevolence from their emperor. Patricians in the know see it as a trial-- one that young Legatus Astarion is decidedly *losing*.
Tying into this, despite commanding a legion he is not well liked by his men. They listen to him out of fear of Emperor Szarr than any true allegiance. Perhaps it is because he prefers the baths and the theatre and the wine Rome has to offer. Perhaps it is because Cazador will have him punish those same soldiers on a whim-- and swear him to secrecy at the same time.
Most of his campaigns for Cazador have been pushing south and a little east. Some think him soft, for bringing the might of Rome down upon soft Greek academics like Gale.
He keeps his armour and his person immaculately in line. Despite their marches there is never a fleck of mud upon the fine red linens he sports. He wears a heavy pelt from a great black wolf-- one gifted to him by Cazador himself-- and despite it's weight on his he's hardly seen without it.
At this point, he is very much intrigued by Gale. He's never met someone like him and he's been on his campaign for so very long with a legion that somewhat detests him. He'll keep his close with the excuse that he's valuable but really, he's delighted to have someone to debate and play chess with.
(Ok this one is a spoiler but I MUST) Like many Roman men of his stature, he has a wife back in Rome. They have been married for a time. Arranged, of course, and entirely political: there is no love between them, there is hardly tolerance. He is childless-- and heirless. A blight upon both their names, the patricians are beginning to talk about his fondness for the unfair sex. (PS: will be someone you recognize and I'm so excited to introduce her)
