Evil Emperor

> *“It has never felt good to be so bad and that’s what I like about us.*
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>  *We bring out the bad in each other.”*
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## Storyline

On a rainy evening, the Listener is surprised by the Evil Emperor as they relax. He is affectionate and romantic, admiring and concerned in equal measure as he comments on how tired they look after a day at their work. Though he wishes he could give them a more comfortable position with the government he admits that their independent streak is one of many qualities that enchanted him from the start. He offers his lap as a pillow but they refuse, saying they’re too restless. The Emperor counters that they’re always restless but stops pushing, saying he’ll return to the Council and return the gift he’d brought for them.

The Listener’s interest appears to perk up but the Emperor teases them, saying that he won’t hand over the gift unless they rest their head. They call him stubborn and he concedes the point, adding that he’s only as stubborn as they make him; besides, the will to not give in to others is a necessary quality for the ruler of a theocracy. He’s pleased when they finally yield and rest their head, then amused when it’s clear they are thinking of his promised reward. Instead of giving it to them he asks for some time to reminisce, chiding them for the face they’re making.

The Emperor recalls the day of their wedding - a once-in-a-generation event - was “a small affair” despite the rarity of the marriage of the High Priascus of Rapture. He recites the vow he made to them that day word for word:

> “My love, I will give you the world and fill it with all you desire for it is simply what you deserve.”
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He reveals that this is relevant to their gift - the High Priest Blackreach of the Theocratic Order has given the final approval of his request to annex their southern neighbors in the Sarcillan Empire to the Listener’s surprise. The Emperor explains he’s had his eye on the territory for quite some time and the recent fall of the Sarcillan imperial bloodline has made it ripe for the taking. He promises that when the war is won, he will give his spouse the entirety of the south to do what they wish, whether it’s “brush the locals away” to turn the continent into a garden or build cities made of treasure on the great lakes. He makes it clear that he will do everything in his power to fulfill their desires.

The Listener brings up the war, a point that makes them uneasy or piques their interest, and their husband reiterates that a fight is necessary otherwise it’s not fun. He adds that it would be perfect to test the latest Academy students and weed out the weak. This conquest would give the two of them control of both shores of the continent and, more importantly, fulfill his vow to give them the world. Such an achievement, he claims, would be impossible without the Listener beside him.
The Emperor muses that the people of the south might think of them as evil, despots, and heathens, but they are blind to the truth behind his ambition - love.

Some time later he greets the Listener in the library. After apologizing for startling them he asks what they are doing up so late at night. The Listener explains they are too restless to sleep, a feeling he empathizes with, though he notes that the spouse of a High Priascus should never be left unsatisfied. Now that he is home, however, he is ready to satisfy their heart’s content.

The Listener asks what they are doing back so late and he explains that he finished his meetings with the war council. Though he wasn’t impressed by their prattling and chest-pounding he acknowledges that the marshals are still of use to him the way worker ants are useful when it comes to following orders. Nevertheless, the invasion day has been set and the armies are being rallied, something the Emperor hopes pleases his spouse. The Ducat has even divined an auspicious night for their invasion with a cresting moon, a sign of the Crimson Mother’s blessing.

The conversation swings between ardent declarations of love and devotion, ruminations over the war preparations, victory plans, and long walks down memory lane. Subjects such as the state of Sarcilla and Runika, his Ritual of Ascension, the pushback from the Arcane Academy, and their personal histories as individuals and as a couple are discussed at length (see the trivia section for more details). The Emperor concludes by saying they’ve been shaped by pure Rapturian survivalism and have more than earned the right to shape the world in turn to suit them.
He urges the Listener to go to bed and apologizes for not being able to follow them. He has research to finish so he can sign war declarations, which is why he came to the library in the first place. His spouse protests they don’t want to sleep so the Emperor compromises; they may rest with him on the ottoman as he works to build their world

Later on, the Listener is the one to visit their husband in his study. Though he is happy to see them and let them interrupt his work, he is dismayed by just how much time he’s wasted with what he considers trivial paperwork. He insists that his work for the war council can wait and turns his full attention to the Listener, reminding them that it’s traditional for people to spend as much time as they can with their loved ones on the brink of war. When they inform him that he has missed their planned dinner together he apologizes.
The Emperor waxes nostalgic, lamenting how much he misses time they were able to spend together in the previous war. The memories of peacetime are especially treasured, such as when they literally escaped from their responsibilities to spend the day in the rolling hills of Rapture. On that day they gazed upon Runika from a distance and imagined what the world could be like if they were in charge. He sounds sad as he tries to think of a time since then where they were that happy and realizes he can’t.
He recalls that the memory happened after his brother’s death, an event that still saddens him. In the same way he treated his brother with nothing but kindness, he reminds the Listener that their work and ambition goes to making the world better for the ones they love. He looks around the study, sees the Listener and his paperwork, and suddenly invites them to run away with him to the western hills for the night. They think he’s joking but he insists this is one of his better ideas and is completely serious. The theocracy, he says, will not fall apart from their short absence and they deserve some time away from the eyes of the courts and “monsters in the cellar.” It might be selfish but he quotes a wise man, saying “Selfishness is not a trait to be scorned.”

The Listener wakes to their spouse sounding more perturbed than usual as he calms and assures them. He explains that they have been the target of an assassination attempt by Runika, which infiltrated the palace with “clockwork creatures” and a possible spy. Though he called for his honor guard, a creature went after the Listener and knocked them unconscious, sending the Emperor into some kind of rage state that he doesn’t remember. It’s implied that he destroyed - or tried to destroy - one of the creatures with his bare hands. Though the meisters told him the Listener will recover with some rest and care, the Emperor was not convinced until they woke up just now.

Incensed by the fact that Runika dared to go against his spouse with subterfuge, he promises that they will accelerate their plans to begin the war with the Greenlanders. He makes it clear that this attempt has made the war personal for him and he apologizes to the Listener for not protecting them. They will, he says, visit the southern city personally to pay a bloody retribution upon Runika, its regent, and its nobility - a show of Rapturian superiority and the unbreakable bond between them.

## Personality

The Evil Emperor’s purpose in life is to acquire enough power to rule Rapture the way he wants, though this desire is entirely wrapped up in his love/infatuation for the Listener, his long-time spouse. He takes great pleasure in his status and privilege, even more so when he is able to share it with the Listener. His ego is further supported by the victory of having earned his position the Rapturian way despite the prejudice against his mixed-breed background.
The High Priascus admits to being a selfish man, though whether this is a personality trait or a consequence of being Rapturian is debatable. The trauma of his father’s public humiliation over his birth broke his heart and taught him to hide his feelings and weaknesses away, only to share it with those he deems worthy. With no higher authority in the country to answer to, he sees everyone except for the Listener as unimportant, comparing them to brainless drones and underlings who serve him. However, Hollow has confirmed in the comments that he is not above lying to his spouse about a certain subject.

The Emperor is mostly diligent with his work as Priascus, though it is a double-edged sword. By ruling the country and Theocratic Order he is able to earn the wealth and power to give the Listener the lifestyle he wants for them (when they allow it). On the other hand he has expressed nostalgia for a past time where the two of them were able to spend more time together as a couple. He doesn’t enjoy working for things he considers as trivial - for now, anything not related to the upcoming war - but he is restrained enough not to put his underlings to death for the inconvenience of it all.
His feelings for the Listener are both apparent and run deep, having been in love with them since he saw them at a ball. He is shameless in showing them affection through words, physical intimacy, and giving them lavish gifts/privileges. According to him, nothing short of the entire world will do; they must also have the finest of luxuries. The Listener appears to be his first love and the only person he opens up to. He describes them as his warden and valkyrie, the protector of his soul in a dangerous world. He is a confident partner, self-assured in his ability to provide for the Listener and secure in knowledge that they love him just as fiercely and deeply. Their attraction and devotion to each other is built on the recognition that they are equals in being “bad” and encourage “monstrous” behavior from the other. He takes any slight upon his spouse as a personal offense and doesn’t hesitate to declare revenge (war) on their behalf.

## Trivia

### Storyline

Due to the lore dump that is the Emperor, a number of talking points are summarized here for clarity and ease of reading.

* Both the Emperor and the Listener were involved in a conflict between Rapture and Runika from which the Emperor emerged with scars (whether they are physical or otherwise is not described). The western-most border was still the western frontier and was not yet conquered under Rapture’s banner. He is especially looking forward to annexing the clockwork-building city as revenge. What is uncertain is if they fought on the battlefield directly or served in more protected, strategic positions. Their noble status at the time is also in question as they had more freedom and less paperwork during the previous war, suggesting he had not yet ascended to the throne as Priascus.
* The Emperor describes the Ritual of Ascension he undertook to become Priascus. It happened when was much younger and he managed to eliminate the other nominee. That night was “soul-rending” and made him realize that he needed someone strong by his side, a protector of his soul, a valkyrie. He knew the Listener was that person the moment he saw them at a ball. They are a kindred spirit who is equal yet separate from all the power he has to wield; thus the only person worthy of everything he has to give.
* The Arcane Academy petitioned for some kind of leniency, with a naga daring to talk back because the students weren’t ready for war. This petition was ignored.
* The Emperor’s reputation is tainted by his birth due to his father’s “indiscretions” with a cambrian, resulting in the half-breed Emperor. His father was punished by being publicly paraded through the streets, scorned by the nobility when he was a child. How the Emperor came to be nominated for the throne despite Rapturian prejudice for (human) blood-purity and his family’s disgrace is unknown.
* The war effort involves bone mills and agents embedded in Runika, but the council is apparently more concerned with the state of the country’s aqueducts.
* Gives the fifth “on screen” kiss on the channel in “Evil Emperor Holds You Close”

### The Emperor

* His official Rapturian title is High Priascus, a position that gives him authority over Rapture. It’s possible that there is an equal position with the Theocratic Order, the religious authority that granted their approval for the war he is planning. This would be held by High Priest Blackreach.
* He won the Ritual of Ascension with a dagger - he does not mention having any arcane ability despite his mixed heritage.
* As the child of a cambrian he is at least one-quarter demon but has not described having inherited any demonic traits, similar to one other known quarter-demon in Rapture.
* The wedding of a High Priascus at the very least involves crowds, caves, a waterfall, a big reception, and a honeymoon
* Black lilies are part of his family’s crest
* Is a successful hunter of werewolves and keeps at least one set of furs in the palace library for decoration and function.
* According to his brother, he is a possessive man who never learned to share even as a child. After Sirenos changed and committed violence on the Rapturian population, Priascus was hailed as a hero for capturing and jailing his half-brother, which opened up the path to the throne.

### The Listener

* Appears to be happy, or at least content, in their relationship with their Emperor, sharing a similar sense of ambition, gravitas, and monstrous nature that makes them incredibly attractive to him
* Has a job outside the Theocratic Order, one they insist on keeping as a measure of independence
* Is prone to restlessness and appears to prefer work over rest even when they have the time to do so
* Comes from a family that the imperial line considered incompatible with their own for unknown reasons
	+ Though it’s implied they’re one of the nobility, the Emperor recognizes in them an appreciation for simple things in life. Their enjoyment of their extravagant lifestyle is due to opportunity, not preference.
	+ They have a similar “disgraced” background and have clawed their way up to the imperial rank with pure Rapturian ambition and cunning.
* The Emperor describes them to be intelligent as well as beautiful, a problem solver who dives deep into research before taking action.

### Fan Theories

* The Emperor’s machinations are happening concurrently with the events of The Arcane Academy series
	+ There was a previous conflict with Runika that the audience has not yet heard of, referenced by the Emperor’s scars and the fact that the Listener “know[s] how the eve of war gets me.”
* The Ducat (spelling unconfirmed) is another name for the High Priest, similar to how Priascus is equivalent to the Emperor

## Audio References

1. ↑ Evil Emperor Gives You The World
2. ↑ Evil Emperor Holds You Close
3. ↑ Evil Emperor Wants You To Himself
4. ↑ Evil Emperor Goes To War For You