Count Carolus Aquilarios

Count Carolus Aquilarios, also known as the Wolf of Kvatch, is the nephew of missing emperor Varen Aquilarios and the current count of Kvatch. Due to the recent events effecting the Gold Coast since the Empire's fall, Carolus has been forced to cooperate with the newly emerged leaders of the region, including the invasive pirate queen Fortunata ap Dugal and Order of the Hour leader Primate Artorius. In the Dark Brotherhood questline, Carolus tasks you with assassinating the pirate queen and assists you in defeating The Black Dragon.

Early life
Carolus is the son of an unknown sibling of Varen Aquilarios. Carolus' grandfather and Varen's father was a Colovian Duke. In his childhood, Carolus was quite close to his uncle, having idolized him. Carolus resided in Kvatch on the Gold Coast.

Varen's Rebellion
Varen left the Gold Coast with the Second Legion during his rebellion against the Longhouse Emperors. He built a wall around the Gold Coast, later dubbed "Varen's Wall", to protect his home domain from the Empire's troops. Carolus wanted to march with Varen to the Imperial City, but Varen instead instructed Carolus with the defense of Kvatch. Disappointed that he would not be fighting alongside his uncle, Carolus nevertheless accepted.

Shortly after Varen and a majority of the Second Legion departed the Gold Coast, Count Ephrem Benirus of Anvil sent troops to seize Varen's holdings. Carolus rallied the troops of the Second Legion whom stayed behind, as well as the Kvatch Vigilants, and briefly fought Anvil's forces. Anvil's troops were now greatly reduced, and retreated to the city.

After Varen successfully took the Ruby Throne in the final months of 2E 576, Carolus was officially recognized as the Count of Kvatch, and fashioned the symbolic wolf on the city's banner into his own title, after the city had been cheering him on as the "Wolf of Kvatch". Shortly afterwards however, Primate Artorius Ponticus began to challenge Carolus' rule, having ambitions to rule the city by his own hand.

The Pirate Queen
With Anvil's forces suffering from heavy casualties and defeats by Carolus' armies, Captain Fortunata ap Dugal sailed into the port. She and her army of pirates quickly took control of the city, with Fortunata becoming the ruling Provincial Governor. Fortunata then proclaimed that the Gold Coast would become its own separate state from the Empire, and began to pressure Carolus to join her. Carolus refused, swearing loyalty to his uncle.

After Varen's disappearance during the Soulburst in 2E 579, Fortunata exploited Kvatch's isolation and made her demands more forceful. With Carolus still remaining against the idea of a separate Gold Coast, Fortunata sent bandits and raiders along the roads and farms surrounding Kvatch. The Vigilants of Kvatch were dispatched, but failed to defeat the bandits who had escaped on the Strid River. They returned in greater numbers, resulting in refugees travelling to Kvatch for safety.

Despite the violent threats, Carolus refused to negotiate with Fortunata. Infuriated, the Pirate Queen sent out the Anvil Guard to formally annex Kvatch into her vision of the independent Gold Coast. Carolus responded by sending out the Vigilants upon the city's walls and sending a cohort to face Fortunata's armies. The opposing forces met at the Gottshaw Inn, and the cohort managed to scatter the Anvil invaders. However, the situation wasn't as it seemed, turning out to truly be a trap. Fortunata's pirates outnumbered the cohort six to one, with the latter being annihilated by the invaders in what came to be known as the Gottshaw Massacre.

With no choice left, Carolus relentlessly agreed to Fortunata's terms. Artorius managed to rise in power as well, establishing a more powerful foothold into Kvatch's politics, with the radicalist Order of the Hour dominating the religious make-up of the city. Carolus in turn became more of a figure-head of Kvatch, with his goals to keep the civilians of Kvatch safe crushed by the opposing leaders' threats.

Signed in Blood
Carolus is initially encountered at Jarol Estate, as his conversation with Fortunata and Quintus Jarol

Governor Fortunata ap Dugal: "Seriously, Quintus, I appreciate you providing a safe place for our meeting, but you couldn't have straightened up a bit before we got here?"

Lord Quintus Jarol: "My apologies, Governor Fortunata, but there's no safer place south of Varen's Wall than right here―vermin notwithstanding."

Count Carolus Aquilarios: "I don't know, Fortunata. This place seems to suit you."

Fortunata ap Dugal: "That's no way to speak to your betters, Count Carolus. Speaking of which, when are you going to finally turn Kvatch over to a proper ruler? Your people deserve so much greater than you."

Quintus Jarol: "My lord and lady, please! We have a more pressing concern and it affects us all!"

Fortunata ap Dugal: "Careful, Quintus. I won't be spoken to in such a manner. But you're right. The Dark Brotherhood grows stronger and threatens everything we've built here."

Quintus Jarol: "I forgot to mention. Primate Artorius sends his regrets, but Cathedral business forced him to remain in Kvatch. He indicates that he will support whatever we decide."

Fortunata ap Dugal: "I rule Anvil with an iron glove, but you let that glorified priest walk all over Kvatch, Count Carolus."

Carolus Aquilarios: "I govern while Artorius handles spiritual matters and the Cathedral's defenders, the Order of the Hour. I've allowed them to patrol Kvatch until the murderer is apprehended."

Quintus Jarol: "Haven't the last few murder victims been suspected members of the Dark Brotherhood? Perhaps if we do nothing, this murderer will solve our problem for us."

Carolus Aquilarios: "I refuse to allow a vigilante to freely stalk the streets of my city. That's why I allowed Artorius to expand the Order of the Hour's authority."

Fortunata ap Dugal: "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you and Artorius were building an army. Should I be worried, my dear Count?"

Quintus Jarol: "Count Carolus, can we at least get your assurance that the Order will return to the Cathedral once this threat is resolved?"

Carolus Aquilarios: "Primate Artorius gave me his word, and I give you mine."

Fortunata ap Dugal: "And why should I trust either of them, Quintus? What good is their word when I find the Order at Anvil's walls."

Carolus Aquilarios: "That won't happen, Fortunata. We're not as ambitious and ruthless as you."

Fortunata ap Dugal: "Despite his holy station, Artorius is a man. He has the same needs and desires as any other."

After nearing the meeting area of the leaders, Commander Pelletus will inform them that you have infiltrated the estate.

Commander Pelletus: "Lord Quintus! Intruders have penetrated the estate. We need to move the three of you immediately!"

Quintus Jarol: "Do not be alarmed, my friends. We've prepared for any contingency. Commander, secure the halls. Make sure no one follows us!"

Pelletus: "Of course, my lord. We'll find the intruders."

Carolus will later escape out of the estate with Fortunata.

A Special Request
Carolus is later met at Castle Kvatch. After Commander Marcus Scipio, under Fortunata's orders you are instructed to inform Count Carolus. He is found in his room, unexpectedly performing the Black Sacrament:

Carolus Aquilarios: "Sweet Mother, sweet Mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear. Did it work? Yes, it must have. I performed the ritual just as described, night after night. And now you're here. I suppose there's no turning back. I have to go through with this, for the people of Kvatch. Fortunata must be stopped."

After talking to Carolus, Speaker Terenus will appear. He instructs you with accepting Carolus' contract of killing Fortunata will he works out the details with the Count.

Trivia

 * Carolus is the author of Count's Correspondence.
 * Carolus' horse is named Triumph. It can be found with him at Dasek Moor.