HERALDS CAMPAIGN
The Blue Aphilius
The Blue Aphilius, formerly known as Wren Kui, is an Astelleian male, one of the 9 members of Second Revelation, and sole member of the 'Astelleian Project'.
Wren was born the only son of Tuao Kui, Regent of Gudea' Wan of Astele. He grew up an intelligent, smug, and superior child, proud of his noble heritage. Despite this, he was an inspiring debater and speaker, and knew how to manipulate others with honeyed words.
On his father's death bed, Tuao revealed to Wren their ancestral claim to the Kui Dynasty, which had been supplanted by the Kresh dynasty some 50 years ago. His final words to his son were him begging Wren to restore the Dynastic Shrines in their ancestor's honor.
When Mt. Shivaro erupted in 2350 3G.c, Wren took his opportunity and began a rebellion, thousands to flocking to his banners to return the once tyrannical Kui rule to the Isles.
While an impressive speaker, leader and strategist, his recklessness and desire to rule crippled his campaign, and slowly his allies and armies were routed and quelled. Considering his options, Wren Kui pivoted to invading Enaeth, to keep what little power he had left over his rebel forces. He swayed his troops minds with the promise of a conquest no previous Emperor of Astele had ever attempted; to capture the Shadowed Lands.
Despite the element of surprise, Wren's forces were captured outside of Rhyne. Ever scheming, Wren told the Craftlords that if they spared him, he would give them the location of another, larger force, still on approach to Rhyne, led by a commander Ffamran Shinzo. This force was ultimately defeated and scattered by the Pennant Archae in 2553 3G.c
Wren however, found new opportunity within Rhyne as an advisor to Craflord Nolahn Letu, who was obsessed with Astelleian history. Wren would join Nolahn on a number of antiquitist expeditions into Bedlo, searching for ancient caches of Astelleian settlements long past.
It was during this time that Wren was discovered by the Maat. Sensing new opportunity, Wren charmed the strange man. Whether the Maat knew of the selfish goals of Wren, which had not abated despite his string of defeats, the Maat introduced him to the Descension process, and he arose the Aphilius.
Now with powers to dominate others through his spoken will, Aphilius took over Nolahn's life, effectively becoming the Craftlord, with Nolahn as his puppet. Nolahn began to resist, and even attempted to expose the Aphiilius to the Craftlords. Nolahn was forced to pen his own suicide letter and take his own life in 2369. Aphilius then manipulated the selection process for a new Craftlord, and manipulated the young and ambitous Albirshinisehm Vecto to take the dead historian'a place.
The Aphilius, now largely in control of the Craftlords, slowly introduced new projects and policy; He ordered the construction of a palace in the Strand over one of his excavations; when TAERA was formed after the Violate War, he suggested a road to relink the now separated cities of Enaeth; he created parties and events, designed to cordon off and isolate the intermingled social circles of Rhyne.
But the Aphilius was not satisfied by playing as glorified think tank. Still in his mind burned the image of his father, and his lost glory and heritage. He would reclaim Astele, and reform the Kui Dynasty to rule forever.
By some yet undetermined means, Wren Kui has returned to the isles a number of times under the guise of Htuo Ci, a Sage from Shi Sui.
As Htuo Ci, he spread rumors of infidelity and illness of the then Emperor Ttian Kresh, spreading dissent throughout Astele. When the Emperor died and war struck, Htuo allied himself with the most likely victor, Regent Mengdai Dei of Shi Laoshi. He manipulated Regent Nanshi Ruo to kidnap the young Emperor Kkratan and begin the conflict proper. Wren did not need his powers of command; he simply pointed these greedy lords to devour each other, hastening a process that would have occurred with or without him.
To his surprise, the inheritors of Rroa Kresh's Regency, Jin Zheng, Hijikata Toshiro, Xixi Boba and Anvar Zhao, swept through Astele in the ensuing wars. Sensing the shifting tide, he set about accelerating the war to its inevitable conclusion. He abandoned Mengdai Dei, and sent an enchanted letter to Enkiyu Wu, killing the Prime Minister of Shang Kur. and attempted to assassinate Reymah ne' Benethiehn of Eresh Yin.
Yet he was unable to get close to the gifted strategist, serving as Emperor Jin Kresh/Zheng's Prime Minister, Reymah ne Benethiehn. So Htuo had agents infiltrate her cult-like group of researchers, and revealed her horrifying experiments to her Emperor. Reymah was exiled from the Isle, and Htuo used this opportunity to submit himself as a candidate for Emperor Zhengs now empty minister position.
He refrained from overtly manipulating the Emperor and his brother's, preferring instead to let their prowess, and his knowledge of his former ally whittle down Mengdai Dei's forces, eventually leading to a climatic battle in Mt. Shi'Varo, where Jin Zheng Ascended as Divine Aspect and unified the Isles in 2397 4G.c, with Htuo now Prime Minister of a unified Astele.
Upon his return to Enaeth, he was discovered by his once political enemy; Reymah ne' Benethiehn, now known as the Dama and defacto leader of Second Revelation. So began a deep mistrust between Aphilius and Dama, the former hiding his rivalry and connection to the conflict in the isles, and the latter suspicious of his lack of interest in the organisations goals.
While the Aphilius is self-obsessed and greedy, his mistakes and long life have taught him patience as a virtue. Whatever his ultimate goal, has been kept hidden from his enemies... and his allies. Few suspect he is manipulating everyone in some elaborate plan to rule... perhaps, everything?
The Aphilius appears quite youthful despite his long age, with blue eyes and a dark beard. He has been seen in both ornate blue and white silken robes, as well as an Astelleian combat dress during his second encounter with Ffamran in Hecto. He often carries writing materials close by, a flute, and his sword, Black Pommel, which he lost to Ffamran during this second encounter.
The Aphilius has the ability to command others through implicit verbal communcation, from simple instructions to the more extreme order to kill ones self. The only limits appear to be comprehension of his command, and the complexity of his order. Silencing him, or moving significant
distance away from him nullifies the effect. Since having his throat cut by Ffamran, it is unknown if he still retains this ability.
Biographical Information
Age:
103
Race/Gender:
Astelleian (Elf) Male
Born:
2295 3G.c
Gudea Wan
Isle of Dongur
Astelleian Isles
Descended:
2367 4G.c
Exposed to The Watcher
Heretic of Command
Died:
\
Campaign Information
First Appeared:
Session 12
Aliases:
Wren Kui
Htuo Ci
Affiliation/s:
Occupations/s:
Prime Minister
Political Advisor
Devotion/s:
The Celestials of Inanna Ven'Mar
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