Alkis Carto

Alkis Carto was the second Emperor of the Carto Empire, leading the nation after the death of his father, Zinon. He is known for reforming a lot of the nation and increasing its prosperity for the years to come, unknowingly helping in the upcoming War of Revenge.

## Early Life

A lot of Zinon’s personal life is private, making it hard to learn about the early life of Alkis. Only later was it known that he was born in **476PR** in Helicules, growing up protected by his father during the dangerous times.

It is believed he was educated solely by his father and unknown mother, as they were both too poor and it too dangerous to send Alkis anywhere else.

When the Carton War began, Alkis was too young to fight but helped in other ways, working with the doctors in the medical wing. He actually became quite good at medicine, shining at times that medics were in short supply.

By the end of the Carton War, Zinon was officially recognised as Emperor, naming Alkis as Prince and heir.

In **494PR** Alkis turned 18, allowing him to take a more active role in politics and leadership. While Zinon did some work on building up the military, Alkis ran the day-to-day, becoming quite popular and witty.

During the start of the 5th Century Alkis became much more vital to the nation, supporting his father during the Plague of the 5th Century and Hurricane Max. It was his idea to copy the Gonarunduns and their method of dealing with the sickness, quarantining and isolating any individuals who showed signs.

## Reign

Through the nation's struggles Zinon’s body continued to fail him, unable to deal with the heavy stress. Most people were unaware by this stage but when he fainted at a public speech it became apparent and calls for Alkis to take the throne became prominent.

On Deamber 13 **508PR**, Zinon died in his bed, surrounded by close friends and family. Alkis took the throne before the end of the year and was crowned in Janu.

### Early Reign

#### Military Reforms

The first thing Alkis did as King was reform a lot of the military. He was afraid that during the plague they might be seen as weak, especially to the nation Gonarundu which was still being led by a council. His goal of the reforms was to make the Carto military focus on quality over quantity and have good loyalty to the Empire. He started by implementing a 5 year training course, separating them into 5 branches: Archers, Awakened, Cavalry, Infantry, and Medical. The medical branch had never really been heard of before but came about from Alkis’s own experiences.

Because of their extensive training and skill, Alkis made sure to increase his respect for the army, placing a high regard on someone who has sacrificed their life and served their nation.

The improvements might not have been seen immediately, but in the later years the Carto Military would become one of the strongest in their area, if not the region.

#### Educational Reforms

As he wasn’t able to get a proper education, Alkis decided to improve the general level of education amongst his people, hiring a large amount of tutors to go out and teach both the nobles and common people.

This was all in an effort to increase the prosperity of his people, realising he needed either technological or cultural advancements to keep the empire strong and going forward.

### Mid-Reign

#### Gonarundun Alliance

In **518PR** a new Gonarundun King, named Zakaria Fidalgo, was rising to prominence. One of his first acts was to discuss an alliance with Alkis, one solidified by marriage. While Alkis was initially hesitant, the Gonarundun monarch convinced him after talking about a unified front against Ilaka.

The marriage was held at Mytaron on Asunak 14 **519PR**. It was a huge achievement for both monarchs to help restore the relationship with the two nations, the city of Helicules being abandoned years earlier in the Helicules War.

#### Helicules Improvements

In **521PR** Alkis decided that the city of Helicules needed both cultural and economical improvements. As monarch he didn’t have the time to focus on this himself so put his son and heir, Altes, in charge with his brother, Nikolas.

This led to an increase in population, a sanitation commission and the construction of the Arena of Giants.

### Later Reign

#### Border Security

In **520PR** the agreement between Ilaka and the Carto Empire ended. While some people wanted to now invade the lands and fight a war of revenge with their old rulers, especially because they were weakened from the Asger War. Yet, Alkis didn’t see it the same. Instead he built two major fortresses on the border in **524PR**, protecting him from any invasions in the foreseeable future. The fortresses were quite revolutionary at the time, using both magic and general construction to strengthen and help, large ballista were used on the walls along with a relatively new construction called the trebuchet.

#### Trade Agreement

In **530PR** Alkis managed to negotiate a trade agreement with the Nirvan Republic, removing tariffs on the sale of Lamb and Papyrus through their lands. In exchange, there would be no tariffs on the Carton side for any of the metals being traded.

## Death

In **533PR** Alkis Carto died from disease. He was succeeded seamlessly by his son Altes, writing his will only months before. His funeral cart was led through the city of Helicules before he was entombed in an unknown location.

## Personal Life

In his youth Alkis was always fascinated by a girl named Medea, becoming close friends before marrying at the age of 18. The couple managed to have a small private wedding, despite the fact Alkis was a Prince, and had their first child in **495PR**, a son named Altes, and their daughter, Helen, was born in **499PR**.

When Helen was married to Zakaria, Alkis continued to remain in close contact, the former coming to visit him often as he was unable to easily leave the nation. This close friendship extended to Zakaria as well, the two likely the closest other monarchs have ever been.

In **518PR** Alkis officiated the wedding of his son, Altes, and his lover, Roxane.

He would welcome Helen’s son, and his grandson, Miguel in **521PR**. The Prince spent some time with Alkis before his return to Gonarundu. He would do the same with Helen and Zakaria’s other two children.

In **522PR** Altes would also have a son named Aktis. Alkis was known for showering him in gifts and setting money aside for him to be sent to the Octavian Institute. When he died before that could happen, it was actually written into his will that Aktis be sent to the school.

Medea died in **531PR** from illness, Alkis never remarrying.

## Legacy

Alkis was a fine Emperor following his father, and founder of the Empire, Zinon. He managed to keep the nation prosperous and make many of his own changes that only improved the Empire further.

His reforms to the military are still in effect, only being improved upon by later monarchs. They would help the Cartons win the War of Revenge, though he would never realise his contribution.

The educational reforms that Alkis made would later fizzle out, later monarchs not feeling the same.