Exordium

AD 40. Roman naval officer Marcus Fronto

and his colleagues are progressing overland

to unknown territory somewhere near modern Chester.

They are conducting a survey and informal reconnaissance

with the secondary objectives of cultivating local chieftains

and identifying strategic mineral deposits.

It is an unknown, largely undifferentiated, land.

So sailorly skills come in very handy.

The British tribes are at war,

are divided in their attitude to Rome,

and besides these many unexpected perils confront

Marcus and his shipmates.

Not to worry, ... Caligula has their back...