Invictus

Qualifications

There is a single qualification to become the Invictus: survive drinking from the Holy Grail after the previous Invictus dies. The Grail is a cup that has poison ground into its metal; the poison kills extremely quickly, and is lethal to all known sapients. When the Invictus dies, those who wish to be chosen in their place line up to drink from the Grail -- and the first of them not to succumb to the poison is believed to have been blessed by the Great Soul.

Of course, as the Arcons say, sometimes an accident happens and a pretender survives. In that case, if the Invictus is killed within forty-five days of assuming the title, the killer is given amnesty for the killing. After all, if a holy-elect could be killed by an assassin, then they must have been able to be killed for a reason.

Duties

The Invictus is the final word on everything within the Halsyona Republic. Their word is law, and divine, appointed by the soul-divided-thrice.

History

During that time in which the Halsyona Republic struggled to survive, plagued by aggressors who sought to destroy it, the title of Invictus invoked a sense of safety and control. As the scattered group jumped from planet to planet they lost more of their number. First Invictus Ione kept the Republic together with her personality and a sense of genuine care for those who followed her.
When First Invictus Ione was killed by hostile spacefarers during an attempt to parlay for passage into a guarded system, the second Invictus (and the one to formalize Invictus as a title) was... less kind.
Now, the Invictus is a figure who may not be questioned. All who approach the Invictus must avert their eyes, turn their heads, cover their faces-- anything to avoid making eye contact.

Type

Religious, Special

Status

Still in effect.

Form of Address

Invictus [Name]

Current Holders

• Kerebos