Celestial III

### Appearance

Angular features with an upturned nose. Though slim in his youth, he grew to be a heavy man in his middle years but wasted away in his older years so that he was described as skeletal in the last decade before his death. Celestial was famously golden haired throughout his youth and adulthood. Once he hit his sixtieth year though his hair lightened to white. His eyes were often described as brilliant, scintillating or luminescent.

### Reputation

Celestial was charismatic and extremely popular both inside and outside of the church. Of all the golden priests he was ear marked for power not because of his clerical power, but his understanding of organisation and how to influence men and women of power.

### History

448PE: Born to the noble Petrov family.

493PE: The crowning of Emperor Aluap. He was known to Jonas and his rise to Emperor massively strengthened the charismatic priest's hand within the church. The clerics believed that someone young and politically astute was needed.

499PE: Sanctified as Cardinal of Celer. From this moment The Cardinal (Celestial III) and the Emperor Aluap had a relationship similar to an ongoing duel complex and with a lot of wary respect.

502PE: The Ro'Tier was officially ended and replaced with the Imperial Senate and the Audit Corporation. An interesting point (one that demonstrates what a powerful leader Aluap was) was that the Emperor used the reorganisation to create rules that banned Sarrifs and clerics from becoming Senators or being employed as part of the Audit Corporation, though he allowed them to be appointed as Viziers and elected as governors. Celestial had been hopeful of using the creation of the Senate to allow the clerics to take much greater control in Imperial politics. Aluap neatly out maneuvered him using the restriction on the wizards to justify it.

502-504PE: In another attempt to equalise the clerics and the wizards and bring them into line with the rest of the Empire, Aluap proposed formalising the relationship between the clerics and the military. Celestial negotiated with Aluap. THe Emperor was not only powerful he was intelligent and well connected but so was the Cardinal. Rather than futilely oppose the Emperor's plans Celestial instead redirected the plan into reforming the Templar Order as an adjunct to the military. Aluap wanted to maintain his relationships and used clear instruction, organisation and negotiation rather than demands and threats.

505-507PE: Wargak Invasion is turned back by Aurian Forces. The first full battle mobilisation of the church with clerics assigned to every combat worthy legion and the Templar Order assigned to battle directly helped to turn the tide. It is a golden moment for the Empire and for Aluap who is seen as not only powerful but also a wise leader. As a reward, Aluap organised the planning of the Blue Crystal Palace for the Sarrifs and after the creation of the Cellestine Cathedral in Tor Celer for the clerics.

512PE: The reign of Peter I began. Tor Celer grew as the power of the church expanded. Celestial was more dominant in his relationship with Peter than he was with Aluap. Celestial's focus was now on the building of the new cathedral. Celestial made every effort to influence Peter ub his decision to make one of the Theonists, North Gant, his Imperial Visier. This also greatly strngthened the hand of the church in imperial decision making.

515PE: The organisation of the legions into the modern Protectorans. A single Templar Order was assigned to assist each Legion though numbers are not formalised as they are with the Sarrifs. This retention of independence was put down to the influence of the Vizier North Gant but Celestial's influence should not be underestimated.

522PE: Died in his sleep, replaced by Truest who was the current Imperial Vizier in that year.