Aktis Carto

Aktis Carto was the fourth Emperor of the Carto Empire. His reign is known for large reconstruction efforts in cities and towns, building them up and adding significant amounts to the Carton culture.

## Early Life

Altes was born in **522PR** to Prince Altes Carto and Roxane Steen. At the time, Alkis Carto still reigned as Emperor.

During his childhood he would stay very close with his mother, his father eventually taking the title of Emperor in **533PR**. While he was seen at the inauguration, he quickly returned back to secrecy, some concerned that he was held hostage in order to control Altes.

At the age of 16, Aktis followed his grandfather’s wishes and attended the Octavian Institute, finishing only a single course and returning home at the age of 19.

Now that he was of age he began to take on the role as Prince, aiding his father in his absence or alongside him for support. He would pick up the responsibility quite naturally, working with a small council that were specialised in different tasks.

## Reign

Aktis’s reign began with the sudden death of his father, thrown from his horse in **542PR** and dying hours later. When news reached the capital, Aktis quickly took control, keeping everyone calm and guarding himself from any potential assassins in waiting.

A day later the news became public, Aktis calling for a day of mourning for his father while beginning preparations for his inauguration. While it was rushed, Aktis became the official Emperor a week after the death of his father.

Now that he was Emperor, Aktis's first act was to order his army reserves to march to the Ilakan border, hearing rumours that they may be attacking. Eventually the rumours were revealed to be fake but still Aktis kept the troops there, concerned about an attack at any moment.

### Building Efforts

After ruling for 5 years Aktis had managed to not only consolidate his power but keep the prosperity that his predecessors kept. Feeling confident, Aktis began to implement his own policies, dedicating funding to improving the city of Helicules and the city of Aecae.

In Helicules this meant extensively upgrading the walls, something not done since the creation of the city. Initially this was only physical constructions but always the man for change, Aktis hired the Aliquam Guild to help add magical reinforcement and defences. At the time public perception of magic was still uneasy, so Aktis willingly accepting it both helped his popularity but angered many others.

Still in Helicules, Aktis ordered a festival be held for the artists in **548PR**, requesting that many paint something new that he will purchase in celebration. Feeling underappreciated for centuries, the festival caused many artists to flock to the city and share their work, Aktis purchasing so much that he had to construct the Aktis Art Gallery to store it all. Historians believe that this single act is why visual art has become the main source of art in the Carto Empire.

In **551PR** his focus changed to Aecae, reforming the city's government so it worked more like Helicules and constructing similar walls to the capital as well. After these projects were completed he began to build up the dock, increasing the trade to the city and his own income in relation.

By **554PR** Aecae had changed into a bustling city, increasing in population and bringing more to the Carto Empire.

Aktis would have another artist festival in **558PR** and one specifically for writers in **566PR**. The writers festival didn’t go down as well due to the very low literacy rate in the Carto Empire but instead spurred something else. Similar to their love of art, the Cartons loved to hear stories, requesting the writers read aloud to them. This later led to the construction of the Story Shack in Helicules in **575PR**, helmed by Astera who was becoming a writer herself.

## Death and Succession

In **578PR** Aktis had a fall, hitting his head on the handle of his door which caused a significant brain injury. While he was still able to talk with some intelligence and wit, his condition was rapidly deteriorating and soon fell into a coma. It is said his last words were caring for his children, stating his love and affection for them and his regret that he would not be able to see them at their peak.

During his sleep his body convulsed violently and he died before any of the doctors could be called.

Normally the throne would fall on the male heir of Aktis, Adonis, however some nobles stated they believed Iris was better suited for the throne. Marcia tried to mediate the disputes but eventually fled the city in fears of a civil war. Yet, in a surprising turn of events Iris gave her support to Adonis, forcing the nobles that supported her cause to do the same.

## Personal Life

Aktis was never one to care about marriage, even when he returned from the Nirvan Republic he still didn’t care to settle down with a girl. When he became Emperor this became a problem, requiring him to start the search for a suitable wife.

Finally he found a girl he liked, a woman named Marcia Sura from the Nirvan Republic. The two married in **549PR**, making her Queen Marcia. In **551PR** they had their first child, a daughter named Iris, followed by another daughter, Astera, in **553PR**.

Without a son and heir the pressure returned to Aktis, the couple trying again for a son. After another daughter named Dirce in **555PR** they would finally have a son in **558PR** named Adonis.

Aktis is reputed as a good father, spending a lot of time with his children and wife. Despite it being unknown if he ever actually loved Marcia, he definitely cared for their children. Atr every chance he got he helped them, though managed to show enough self-restraint not to spoil them. His son, Adonis, is a good example, teaching him the ways of a ruler from an early age in order to avoid the early confusion he faced in his own reign.

When his children got old enough they were becoming a powerhouse of a direct family in the Empire.