His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Claudio Ellieux III, Guardian of a Thousand Stars, Master of the Universe
Emperor Claudio Ellieux IV is the definition of a successful failure, and worst of all, he both knows it and resents it. Born the only lawful child of Emperor Claudio Ellieux III, Claudio IV, known as “Dio” in boyhood, was cosseted during his minority, wanting for nothing. Told that he was the very best the galaxy had to offer, his parents tried to instill in him a sense of both pride and responsibility. However, Dio learned at an early age that he was not the best at much of anything: he was a mediocre athlete, an indifferent scholar, was not martially inclined, and had little head for bureaucracy or politics.
In an attempt to escape what he called “the bubble” that swirled around his father and mother, and to a lesser extent himself, Dio enrolled anonymously at the University of Marantha, where he first met the varnskyr male Caspahr Weir. Despite significant differences between them, they became fast friends. However, if ever he needed more proof of his inadequacy, Weir provided it; the scrappy and lean varnskyr was an excellent hunter and runner, clever and quick to absorb his classwork. However, Weir demonstrated supreme tact in encouraging his friend, tutoring him and introducing him to a slightly rougher side of life than he was used to on Hesperides. Weir’s success showed in the improvement of Dio’s grades and scores, without damaging their friendship.
So great was their friendship that when his father wrangled a Quaestor’s Belt for Dio, he insisted that his friend Weir be presented with one as well. This whim, like most of his whims, was indulged. The pair had reason to be excited – the prior Great Quest had required the quaestors to explore and discover (or re-discover) a world not then known in the Empire. The idea of undertaking such a grand adventure appealed to the young Crown Prince. However, when the Great Quest was announced, it was to eliminate an infestation of Killik bugs – giant antlike insects with a primitive intelligence that hurtle through space in hive-asteroids. Killiks had infested seven systems in the Inner and Mid Rim.
While certainly dangerous, Dio looked upon this Quest as a lesser quest than others before it and suspected his father of meddling. His suspicions appeared confirmed when he was given command of the quaestor team assigned to Orion. Nonetheless, he and his friend Weir took their responsibilities seriously and eradicated the Killik threat on Orion faster than any other team. Dio and Weir then moved to the grassland planet of Orumel to slaughter more of the invading insects. The final tally had Dio killing more Killiks than any other quaestor participating in the Great Killik Hunt, as the quest became known as.
The truth is more typical of Dio’s ability; Caspahr, a natural hunter, killed the majority of Killiks that the pair hunted together, but credited Dio with his kills. Grateful, Dio used his connections to land Weir several important positions within the Imperial Bureaucracy, culminating in the office Weir has held longest – Minister of Administration. From that position, Weir manipulated the various electors upon the death of his father to elect Claudio IV as the latest emperor of the galaxy.
Since that time, Emperor Claudio IV has presided over an Empire stuck in indecision and malaise. While he has wanted to do great things, the glacial pace of the bureaucracy and the constant competing interests among the members of the Celestial Court has ensured that nothing of great note can be accomplished. The creation of the ansible, which has ushered in the Third Breath of Civilization, is an accomplishment for which he can take no credit for, and knows he handled poorly.
Now as he nears death, Claudio Ellieux IV is well aware that he will go down in history as a footnote rather than a searing chapter, and he is bitter about his own accomplishments and jealous of others. Because of several negative experiences in his youth, Claudio IV never married nor had any legitimate children.
Comments