Aulus

Sir Aulus is a captain of the Knights Excubitor, the Emperor's innermost personal guard, bred for violence on genetic looms. He serves on Hadrian's personal detail alongside Sir Verus, Sir Marcus, Sir Gaius, and Sir Antonius.

During a food distribution procession through Catraeth, Aulus rides the exterior of Hadrian's armored groundcar. When the vehicle overturns in a riot, Aulus is thrown from the hull and cuts through the crowd with lethal efficiency, blood running from its white samite and ceramic armor like mercury before leaving it spotless. A rioter wielding a sledgehammer strikes Aulus in the head, knocking it insensate; a second blow follows to the back of the head. The surviving Excubitors carry Aulus to a rooftop and lay a cape over its body.