Aikos Rekcuskcid

Aikos Rekcuskcid depicted in a portrait, circa 1171 AB.

Aikos Rekcuskcid is a prominent Blue political figure and former political speaker. He served as Hegemon of the Second Azure Empire from 1170 A.B. to 1179 A.B.

## Youth

Aikos was born on the 12th of Kemtilyatva, 1146 in Crestopolis City as the son of Manikos Rekcuskcid and Aizura Rekcuskcid. His father, Manikos, was a senator for the duchy of Crestopolis, and his mother was a civil engineer responsible for the construction of many dams throughout northern Blue. His mother became quite frail from complications during childbirth, so he was the only child of his parents.

The Rekcuskcid family was rich even for Crestopolians, and as such Aikos grew up in a very sheltered environment. He was sent to private schooling all throughout his life, from preschool to his high school graduation. His peers described him as very kept-to-himself, often spending his free time either working or staring aimlessly into the distance. His teachers, however, ascribed him to be a diligent and strong worker, often scoring well in terms of grades and general performance.

This success can be attributed to the near puppet-like control which Manikos, his father, had over his life. According to recovered diary entries from his middle school years, Aikos claimed his father allowed him no time to rest or relax, keeping him on a tightly regimented schedule of work, meals, and very little sleep. In a memoir published by Manikos, he fondly recalls this very policy of his, stating how it "molded (Aikos) into the great man he is today".

However, Aikos detested this control over his life, and turned instead to his beloved mother, Aizura. While his father was away, Aizura would often sneak Aikos away from his retainers and take walks together through the parks and landmarks of the city. In her journal, Aizura recalls a particularly tough day for Aikos, where her son fell asleep in her arms while watching the stars above. Further in his memoirs, Manikos recalls how closely his son bonded with Aizura, often spending long chats during meals with her discussing his school life.

Unfortunately, all great things often end in tragedy.

### Azurial Summit of 1163

In 1163, with the help of Manikos, Aizura had been selected by the current Protos to deliver a speech in front of the Senate and Lower House of Blue regarding the construction of a dam across the Agnos River. No one was more excited for this, however, than Aikos. Not only was his favorite person in the world getting a great reward, but he would finally get to see the world outside his tiny neighborhood. While on this trip, he fell in love with the gippers of Azurial, writing in a journal, "The little fellows... command such a love and respect for themselves and the world that created them."

   It was arranged for the family to arrive at the parliament via private train. However, due to a still-unknown technical error, the train broke down and could not be started on the day of the summit. As such, the Protos arranged for a fleet of helicopters to carry the family in. Manikos wished to leave Aikos at the hotel to continue his governmental studies, but eventually caved to Aizura's requests, recognizing the opportunity of seeing the parliament in action. Aizura was given a personal helicopter to allow her to formulate her speech in peace, while Manikos and Aikos followed in a separate helicopter. The escort was made up of troops from a variety of duchies, including Ishuui, Auuvsia, and even a force led by General Harold Halvard of Oldfoundland. Of course, this was all ceremonial, for none of these groups had any weapons on them.

As the convoy was barely a kilometer away from the capitol, a sniper shot and killed the pilot of Aizura's helicopter, sending it careening into the streets with her still inside. A violent explosion tore through the streets of Azurial. The assailants attempted to fire again, but were quickly spotted and eliminated by Halvard using an incredibly precise Pillar of Flame spell. Twelve people died that day- but the hope of one more perished along with them.

Aikos fell into despair at the loss of his mother. It was later learned that the plot was an assassination attempt targeted at Manikos, but failed due to confusion regarding which helicopter he was in. Manikos would soon resign from his senate position, citing "the immense duress it places both on the body and mind". Aikos, however, would not so soon resign himself to fatalism. From his hotel in Azurial, he spent every waking moment focused on the investigation into the attack. When a report surfaced that the two attackers were members of the Blue Dawn, he was appalled that such an organization could allow something like this to happen. For once in his life, he had a purpose- a reason to become stronger. A reason that was so potent, that it led to him overlooking a later report which found a number of different people of varied religions and races were involved in the attack.

### University and First Marriage

Once he turned 18, Aikos immediately began working towards his political science degree. He followed in his father's footsteps, taking a 4-year course at the University of Crestopolis. In university, he studied Verdanka heavily and became fluent in the language, in addition to Azurite and his native Crestopolian. His father, for once recognizing his son's unhealthy state of mind, heavily encouraged him to find a girl to spend his life with. Soon, Aikos would meet a fellow student named Miatas Larant, another top student at the school, and fall in love. In an act of incredible haste, the two would get married soon after, at the age of just 20 years old. Just 3 years later, his son, Aikos Rekcuskcid the Second, would be born. However, this would not be the only event to shake the blooming politician's life.

## Political Beginnings

As soon as Aikos completed his political science degree in 1168, he would cross the rift into the political community, officially registering as a Hegemon candidate for the 1170 election with absolutely no political experience. He intended to join the NMP, but accidentally burped while telling the election organizers the name of the party. As Blue does not allow candidates to change political party affiliations in the middle of a campaigning period, a new party, named BRAP (retroactively meaning the Blue Restoration Alliance Party) was formed, with Aikos as the only member. This surely would have spelt the end for his attempts at the hegemony, had it not been for an act of pure happenstance.

### 1169 Gipper Crisis

In the early months of 1169 AB, a worrying report was published in one of Blue's largest science magazines. The pathways of large container ships were recklessly crossing through the migration paths of gippers, killing off many of them and causing them to be officially labelled as "endangered". As soon as Aikos heard of this, he immediately took to valiantly defending the gippers, attending his first political debates to make speeches about their importance. He was not invited to these events, and instead climbed up onto the stage while other candidates were debating to make his speeches. Regardless of this reckless behavior, his bold words, no-bullshit attitude, and large demeanor gained him nationwide notoriety and fame, with many citizens cheering on what they had felt like was a breath of fresh air amidst decades of establishment politics.

### 1170 Election

Riding the wave of his success during the Gipper Crisis, Aikos would find himself with a sizable backing of supporters from the now-struggling NMP, especially based on his similar political philosophies. ICUP would soon endorse him as a candidate in a state of panic, unaware of the floundering state of the NMP. In a massive upset, the first-time politician Aikos Recuskcid would go on to defeat opposing NMP candidate Fraunki Nonington for the seat of Hegemon. He won in a landslide with 63% of the vote, winning 12/13 duchies.

## First Term as Hegemon

Aikos's first term as Hegemon came to a rocky start, as he entered a messy divorce with his wife, Miatas. The conflict supposedly originates from the day of his son's birth, where Aikos described his son, in front of an entire hospital waiting room, as a "blob-shaped monkey with half the brains of one". As well as demanding "This dude clearly isn't done yet! Put him back in!" The following year-long court battle for custody of his son, which Aikos eventually won after Miatas could no longer afford her attorney's fees, evidently took a major toll on his mental state. Namely, due to the fact that Aikos actually wished to fight against custody of his son, but was misinterpreted by his lawyer.

In service to this theory, Rekcuskcid found himself a newfound indulgence in ice cream. He found himself eating gallons of the treat per day, out of a combination of stress from his Hegemony and his court trial. Utilizing his extreme sway over the Houses and Senate, he passed a bill into law known as the Delicious Ice Cream Congress (DICC) Act. This bill laid out plans for massive streetcar networks, which were entirely used for ice cream trucks, in 14 major cities throughout the provinces of East and West Azurial. Additionally, the document lays out 249 pages of standards relating to the production, manufacturing, storage, distribution, and sale of ice cream. The bill does not provide any definite budget, only stating to "use as much Pari as is needed".

Due to the stigma against men who do not have facial hair, within a year of being elected Hegemon he grew a full beard, which he would keep for the remainder of his term as Hegemon.

## Controversies

### Alleged Status as "The Dicksucker"

During his terms, many news stations claimed that Aikos moonlighted as a vigilante known as the Dicksucker, who would roam the streets of Azurial at night beating up political opponents and Reds. In captured CCTV footage of the Dicksucker beating up ICUP politician Umin Tratugal using a metal bat, they were seen wearing a dark navy coat bearing the Hegemonal Crest. Aikos later addressed these accusations publicly, wearing the exact same coat, saying that such allegations were "completely unfounded", "utterly ass-backwards stupid", and "like calling Balderlane a genocidal maniac".

### Racism

Aikos has been observed making racist statements towards every ethnicity in the world, including his own. Listed below are some public domain excerpts from his speeches.

#### Towards Red

* "...like those [Red] blood-worshipping demon cultists" (1169, 2nd Crestopolian Debate- during a speech about preserving gippers)
* "The Reds are like the Flame they worship- they'll burn us all down if we don't extinguish them now" (1170 Inauguration Speech- completely unprompted)
* "...but like you'd [expletive] know, you [expletive] bloodsucker" (open diplomatic meeting with the DSSR, 1173)
* "It is [the Reds] in Azurial that suck off our lifeblood like leeches" (1177, Third Unannounced National Address)
* "I have lit the sparks to incinerate the bloodsuckers- I leave it to [the next Hegemon] to fan the flames" (1180 Farewell Address)

#### Towards Orange

* "We need to make sure that none of the sandskinnies get the drop on us through those tiny little hole thingamajigs" (1171- leaked memo to Astynomia Imperia)
* "...where is [Citrus]? Those sandbrains can't have developed a city yet" (1174- response to Hegemonal Debate question on Orange foreign policy)
* [Orange's] gotten overconfident lately- I say we take them all for a dive and see how they fare (1179 Campaign Speech)

#### Towards Yellow

* "Everything about [Yellow] is miserable- they're all poor, rude, and self-centered" (1169, 2nd Crestopolian Debate- On Yellow's expanding influence)
* "If Balderlane hadn't stopped, the world would be a whole lot better" (1173, speaking to a group of schoolchildren from Radiance)
* "WE WILL NOT LET THE BALD HERETICS LIVE A MOMENT LONGER!" (1176, addressing a crowd in Diokhavar)
* "If the stubborn bees will not let us through their little forcefield, we will tear it down and gobble all of them up" (1177, "End the Magic Fields" rally)

#### **Towards Blue**

##### Towards Auuvsians

* "I can't stand them. I hate the way they look. I hate the way they talk. I mean, have you ever spent substantial time around one? They won't shut up about Balderlane or something." (1176, unknown)
* "They sound incomprehensible. Like a child choking to death on a crayon. Everytime they speak - that is, they sound like one. Not that they're literally a child choking on a crayon of course, I mean they metaphorically sound like one." (1177, addressing the Auuvsian child massacre)
* "[immediately after the previous comment] ... I mean, they MIGHT be a child choking on a crayon, knowing their sophistication, who knows?" (1177, addressing the Auuvsian child massacre)
* "The worst part is: It's not just their Azurite accents that are terrible, I mean, Eastern Azurite IS terrible. But have you ever heard the native Auuvsian tongue itself? dzah wage tsuga va ta. Yeah yeah we get it, what the fuck are you even trying to say? Speak normally, for Selenia's sake." (1177, addressing the Auuvsian child massacre)

##### Towards Agave

* "I have nothing nice to say about our cocaine-ridden western neighbors. Glamor, but at what cost? I mean, it's not like we would ever do something like that. Impossible." (1172, at a rally in Chistai.)

##### Towards Nunnshire

* "I know Azurite isn't my first language, but I am damn near fluent in it. But holy hell, I for one can't speak whatever the hell they speak in Nunnshire. If my child spoke like that, I would call that a speech impediment. I don't know why we've gaslighted ourselves into calling Nunnshire literate. They're not literate. It's bullshit." - (1175, leaked discussion from a dinner with the Callimon of Crestopolis.)
* "The thing you need to know about [Nunnshire], is that every accusation is projection. Every time they're racist to somewhere, it's because they secretly wish they were them. I mean, if I was in Nunnshire I'd wish I was from anywhere else, too. Except Auuvsia, I don't think they're all too jealous of them." - (1172, at a rally in Chadford, Nunnshire.)

##### Towards Ishuui

* "Folks, I will be honest with you all. This is my first time visiting Ishuui, mostly because you fucks have nothing worth doing here." - (1169, at a campaign rally in Entranos)

##### Towards Oldfoundland

* "Wow. This place is really garbage. I really hate it. I was told as a kid that Amelia used to be nice. But you assholes turned it into a garbage dump! Fuck you!" - (1178, an unprompted comment to a random bystander standing outside of a restaurant Aikos had just left during his visit to Amelia.) (more down below)
* "The University of Spiti. Just about the only thing of intellectual value in this Selenia-forsaken place." - (1177, during a visit to Spiti.)
* "What the fuck. How the hell do people live here?" (1174, during a stopover in Galaziakti)
* "That gorilla should have gone all the way and killed the lot of you." (1176, upon visiting the Amelia Museum of History)

### Amelia restaurant incident

In 1178, after leaving the Renmolis Rag Tratudisar, a famous restaurant in Amelia, Aikos was captured on tape saying "Wow. This place [referring to the city of Amelia in general] is really garbage. I really hate it. I was told as a kid that Amelia used to be nice. But you assholes turned it into a garbage dump! Fuck you!", seemingly unprompted to a random bystander. The bystander in question was a woman named Leanizh Ganamarrah, who looked at the Hegemon with confusion, before walking away. The Hegemon's motives for saying this remain unknown, as Aikos would attack any interviewer who asked him about it, and then run away. It is possible Aikos was intoxicated during this incident, as the restaurant does sell alcohol.

### Religious bigotry

Aikos is openly xenophobic and bigoted towards The Blue Dawn. In 1169 A.B., in a speech in Diokhavar, Diorenus, he stated "...[The Blue Dawn]... they're fucking insane. They criticize us Selenites for our dietary practices, and then decide they don't like fish. All because what? Some woman 7,000 years ago got bit by a fish? How the hell does that even happen. I say, you have to be really foolish to managed to get bit by a fish. But she did it...that idiot somehow did it..."

Reportedly, many in the audience could not comprehend what he was saying, due to his unusually thick Crestopolian accent and dialect, and cheered him on anyways. He would later go on to use this incident as validation for his xenophobia towards the Blue Dawn, stating: "The Blue Dawn is obviously unpopular. I mean, they even cheered me on in Diorenus!"

### Involvement in the Auuvsian child massacre

In 1177 A.B., the 78th Auuvsian Child Massacre took place, in which an orphanage was bombed, resulting in the deaths of 19 children. It is reported that Aikos' government funded organizations which sponsored the attack, and other subsequent attacks. It is well-known that Aikos' has an unfavorable opinion towards Auuvsians. An investigation was carried out, and Aikos (as well as other notable figures in his government) was subpoenaed and testified. After about two years of investigation, which later grew to become a notable scandal, the case was eventually dismissed, perhaps due to Auuvsian xenophobia.

### Endorsement of conspiracy theories

#### Baldness and hair loss

Aikos has long sought a cure for male and female pattern baldness, and has publicized various dubious claims about potential cures to the ailment. When he was attending University, he claimed in one paper that high doses of Calcium would slow or stop hair loss. Subsequent research found no connection between hair growth and calcium.

#### Persecution complex

During both of his campaigns, and throughout his entire Hegemony, Aikos frequently tried to establish a persecution complex. Stating that he was a "victim of persecution", and "They're not going after me. They're going after you, I am merely just in the way." It is true that Aikos and his government faced persecution by the law multiple times, but was never charged with anything substantial.

### Partying Scandals

It is well established that during Aikos' two terms as Hegemon, the Hegemon House was turned into a hotbed for partying, gambling, prostitution, and other worldly affairs. His opponents (and the media as a whole) would often lambast him for his behavior, but many blues sympathized with him, realizing that he had embraced the true blue spirit. In one speech, the Lawspeaker of Nunnshire, Semeg Nosnikliw, a notable ally of Aikos at the time, praised him, stating "I don't know why so many people are upset. I mean, I wish I was there. That looks fun as hell."

### Denial of Crestopolis' existence

Aikos frequently denies the existence of Crestopolis. Multiple maps used throughout his government did not include the duchy, much to the disdain of the Crestopolians. Aikos himself is ethnically Crestopolian and has lived almost all of his life on the island. As to why he denies the existence of his homeland, is unknown.

### Dickfencing Tournament Ring Incident

In the 13th day of the 8th month of 1172, Aikos was found hosting dickfencing tournaments, and was theorized to have personally challenged his opponents to such duels. As such, he was subsequently arrested, as dueling is illegal within the Second Azure Empire. A few hours later though, he was freed and the charges were dropped, as the law stated that dueling was legal as long as the duels did not involve the taking of life or severe injury from any of the participants. Many people sympathized with him, and/or thought that the arrest was politicized in nature, as the law was already obvious due to previous precedent set by the Highest Court.

### Threats made against specific individuals

Aikos has numerously threatened individuals who criticized or challenged him, often while in parliamentary session. Aikos frequently threated Meta Cytari Rosenbalt, the incumbent Vasiliassa, to a fight outside on the capitol grounds. After the third threat was made, the Vasiliassa accepted the request and the two met in private at sunset. Aikos took off his Hegemonial Crest and charged at the Vasiliassa, but slipped and fell on a brick and was subsequently hospitalized for three weeks as he recovered. During this time, in which his wife operated the Hegemony on his behalf in secrecy. Many wondered where he was, as he had not been photographed or appear in public for several weeks. 3 weeks later however, he returned to his office and conduct business as usual, albiet with a new scar on the side of his cheek.

### Response to the Auuvsian Earthquake of 1173

In late summer 1173, a devastating Earthquake impacted the Duchy of Auuvsia, as well as minorly affecting the duchies of Riis and Matria as well. It was identified as the worst earthquake to hit the duchy since the 1003 Earthquake, resulting in the deaths of 2,217 individuals. Controversy arose when the Hegemon first learned about the earthquake, reportedly saying "Good." upon being briefed on the issue. The media and public were divided on the issue, with some decrying the comment as being bigoted and "not helpful", as the ANAL News Network worded it. Others supported the comments as "representing the truth," and that "they [Auuvsia] ... deserved the natural disaster ... for the crime of being Auuvsian.", quoted the New Dawnist League.

In response to the comments, the Iaxrra of Auuvsia, Pusna D'Anagamansama described the comments as being hurtful and "further continuing the discrimination we've systematically faced, as those in Azurial continue to remove the fail-safes that protects us from natural [or economic] disaster from our Duchy, to further enrich their own home countries. They say we're a drag on the economic state of Blue, but is that really true at this point?". Aikos continued the exchange by publicly calling Pusna "a loser", and "a fat little boy who talks too much."

## Post-Hegemony

Aikos' left office in 1180 A.B., and has lived a life of relative isolation. Although Aikos' was quite controversial during his tenure, his reputation has rebounded considerably as Blues remember his antics first and foremost.