Emperor Cazaal
Cazaal has ruled Aeuz from its founding, and never seems to age despite being at least six centuries old. He has historically, by all accounts, been a fair and just ruler, and therefore his people have been mostly happy to allow him to continue functioning as an absolute monarch.
It is believed that Cazaal has some supernatural parentage, although no one has been able to determine what that parentage might actually be. Given his tendency to surround himself with Tiefling advisors, many suspect he is descended from Infernal heritage, but his physique shows no signs that would suggest this. Though it is presumed he has considerable magical capabilities, he has rarely demonstrated them in any public capacity. This only contributes to the mystique surrounding his origins.
Cazaal has had many lovers in the past, and presumably many bastard children. Given his intent to rule Aeuz forever, though, he has never married or recognized a legitimate heir. His paramours have included pirate queens, triton warriors, and at least one dragon.
Background
No one in living history knows exactly when Cazaal was born, but he is at least as old as Aeuzian Empire itself, having been its only recorded ruler. Over the last six plus centuries of his rule, Cazaal has expanded his realm from a single city in the Northern territory of the continent (Choutal) all the way through to the Southern Seas. Impressively, his rule has always been characterized by a pround balance of ambition and restraint. When Cazaal first began his expansion southward, it was feared by many that he intended to take over the entirety of the continent, and both Veruun and the The Kaeol Sovereignty prepared for a war they believed inevitably. That war never came however, as the conquest inexplicably stopped at the borders of the Inner Sea. Now styling himself Emperor and calling his lands an Empire, Cazaal set upon advancing the culture and technologies of his peoples. Initially, much of this growth relied on the mages of Zorim and their J'jiwe (Deep Gnomes) slaves, whose engineering feats became the basis for much of Aeuz's impressive infrastructure. Eventually, however, Cazaal's tolerance for the practice of forced servitude waned (it is believed by some that his opinion was shaped by an abolitionist lover, but this is not confirmed). He banned slavery, and the J'jiwe people subsequently became the secretive diaspora that populates the continent today. Following the abolishment of slavery, which came with an understandable decrease in the labor available to Aeuzian efforts, Cazaal took an increased interest in arcane means of building up his empire, and founded a number of insttitutes concerned with the development of magical abilities, including academies, colleges, temples, and monasteries. This led to Choutal becoming a center of learning for not only Aeuz, but the entirety of the continent. Cazaal's court has benefitted greatly from this development, as his advisors include some of the most talented and learned practitioners of magic in all of Zor. This success comes with a price, however. In addition to the occasional would-be usurper, the wealth of treasure and knowledge amassed in Cazaal's palace has made an attractive lure to dragons and other powerful beings across the planes. Cazaal has managed a prologned peace with most of his empire's draconic residents, leaving their lairs and territories undisturbed so long as they do not infringe upon his citizenry or personal property. However, as of late there have been rumblings of trouble in the mountains outside Choutal, leading Cazaal to prepare for whatever confrontations loom ahead of him.Mental characteristics
Gender Identity
Androgynous
Sexuality
Pansexual and Panspecies
Education
Cazaal has spent time learning in various academies of magic and bardic colleges, in addition to spending considerable time amongst the clerics of various temples across his empire. He also spends several weeks a year training in one of the monasteries outside Choutal.
The Emperor of Aeuz, currently employing monster hunters to deal with an increase in disturbing activity involving some of the empire's deadlier fauna.
Character Location
Alignment
True Neutral
Current Status
Hiring monster hunters to deal with threats to his citizens.
Current Location
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
His Eternal Majesty, The Everburning Sun
Age
At least 600 years
Children
Current Residence
The Imperial Palace
Pronouns
he/him, we/they
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark brown
Hair
Long, jet black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tanned
Height
6’8”
Weight
220 lbs, lean
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Those under our wing shall only ever rise."
"Fear us? Why would you ever fear us, unless you are trying to take our place. Those who have tried lie below this throneroom floor."
"Fear us? Why would you ever fear us, unless you are trying to take our place. Those who have tried lie below this throneroom floor."
Belief/Deity
Aligned Organization
Ruled Locations