Tuvat Cleese was the long-serving Chancellor of the Realm, presiding officer of the Seat of Supremacy, and one of the most quietly influential Gelt statesmen in the postwar era. Elevated from peasant origins through military service alongside the late Sovereign, Cleese became a symbol of meritocratic ascent within the caste-bound Realm. Though of humble birth, he carried himself with a dignified, almost aristocratic presence, easily recognized by his waddling gait—often compared, with affection, to that of a land-bound waterfowl.
During the succession crisis of 429–430 IE, Cleese served as a key mediator among competing factions in the Seat of Supremacy. His pivotal decision to cede the floor to Sansar Aryanna broke the deadlock and enabled her rise to Sovereign, earning him lasting respect across caste lines. Though he never sought power for himself, his ability to broker consensus and temper firebrands like Bolden Dulak and Ilexar marked him as one of the Realm’s most essential stabilizing forces. He brought the same insight to bear in Suicide Gambit, where he offered JT Austin and Suicide critical guidance on navigating Gelt law, indenture politics, and the Sovereign’s expectations during the crisis on Hanar.
Cleese met his end during the Hanar coup in 436 IE. As Tishla fled and loyalists scrambled to contain the insurgency, Cleese remained at his post in Gilead City to coordinate diplomatic protections for the Sovereign’s anticipated intervention. He was captured and executed by human insurgents aligned with the anti-joint colony faction. Upon learning of Cleese’s death, JT Austin personally executed the insurgent commander responsible and ordered his head removed—both as punishment and as a grim gift to the Sovereign. Cleese’s assassination shocked the Realm and further justified the Sovereign’s immediate and brutal response to the coup. In death, Cleese became not only a martyr to peace but a symbol of how deeply the ideals of Hanar had come to matter to both Gelt and humans alike.
Author’s Note:
If it wasn’t obvious by the “waddling gait,” Tuvat Cleese was named for Monty Python member John Cleese, aka “the Minister of Silly Walks.” You’re welcome.
Appearances: “Uneasy Lies the Crown,” Suicide Gambit