Real Strephon

Strephon's double was assassinated by Archduke Dulinor in 132-1116, who then claimed the throne by the ancient custom of Right of Assassination. Dulinor eventually fled to his stronghold in Ilelish, to prepare for war.

Strephon himself was on a science mission to supervise progress of project Longbow scanning the Empress Wave. When Strephon was informed of Dulinor's treason - and the death of his wife Iolanthe and his daughter and heir Grand Princess Ciencia - he choose to retreat to Usdiki, instead of moving to challenge Lucan's ascension to the Iridium Throne on Capital.

He publicly declared himself as the authentic Emperor in 1117, but only subsectors close to Usdiki rallied around him: other factions ignored his call or disputed his credentials. Many claimed that he was in fact a pseudo-biological robot.