Emperor Tariq Kharata; known as "Tariq the Deceiver," was the 32nd ruler of the Eloysian Empire, who reigned on the Jade Throne between the years between the years AR 526 and AR 551.
Tariq was the grandson of Emperor Abu-Malik II. Under his grandfather's rule, the young Tariq was sent to Za'har, along with thousands of other Eloysians warriors to fight in the Shining Crusade against the Demon-hordes of Khellum-Zhûr. Tariq fought alongside Arazni at the climactic Battle of Three Sorrows, in which Arazni was slain and Khellum-Zhûr defeated. With this great victory the Riftwars came to an end.
The city-state of Khalifar was extremely weakened by these wars, and the famed Knights of the Triskelion were but a shadow of their former strength. It was then that the young Prince Tariq saw an opportunity to bring yet another conquest to his house and further expand the empire. Tariq stayed in Khalifar for many years, gaining popularity and learning the city's politics.
He sailed for Azoria in the year AR 52 upon learning his father; Emperor Al'Than II, was deathly ill. Upon his father's death in the year AR 504, Taris assumed the imperial throne.
In the year AR 528, Tariq began to bring his devious plans to conquer Khalifar into fruition. The famed Saffron Legion, which Tariq had convinced the city governors to deploy to supplement the Knights of the Triskelion, were secretly working from him and ready to overthrow the city.
In a rather daring ploy, Emperor Tariq ordered the Saffron Legion to assassinate the local rulers of Khalifar and declared it an imperial colony.
