Emperor of Rome, Conqueror of Britain ... The year is 43 AD. In Southern England, Caractacus, war chief of the Britons, watches as the scarlet cloaks of the Roman legions spread across his lands like blood. In Rome, Emperor Claudius, newly risen to the imperial throne, dreams of taking his place in history alongside Caesar and Augustus. Among the legions marches Rufus, keeper of the Emperor's elephant. War is coming and the united tribes of Britain will make a desperate stand against the might of Rome. The emperor has a very special purpose for Rufus and his elephant - to cow the Britons with a visible manifestation of Rome's power.