Piqo Thipoqo

Piqo Thipoqo
Born	10-9 29 PC Ishiq
Nationality	T'vaqi
Education	CC Score 36
Alma mater	High Institute of the Arts
Title	Grand Magister (63 PC-present)
Predecessor	Insi Q'so
Spouse	Vasa Sasqi (m. 55 PC)
Parents	Noqo Thipoqo (father) Siqho N'iqo (mother)

Piqo Thipoqo was a Grand Magister of T'vaqi. He is the founder of the Amiqa Platform, the nation's first political party.

Early life

Piqo Thipoqo, born into a middle-class family in the Riqha district of Ishiq, worked as an apprentice in his parents' supermarket from the age of 6. The supermarket, an individual store named Q'Loa mi Mhiso (Cheap Indeed), was forced to close in 41 PC due to declining sales. Thipoqo, 12 years old at the time, had been born less than two months before the T'vaqi Grand Calming, and as such had no memory of a world walled by the Storm. This left Thipoqo much less apprehensive towards the mysteries of the wider archipelago; he soon took an interest in mapmaking, becoming a member of the Cartographer's Guild. Upset by the Grand Council's continued stance against contact with the greater world, Thipoqo became determined to rise to power himself and advocate for T'vaqi to become known. After years of rigorous studying, Thipoqo achieved a Caste V CC Score, making him eligible for promotion to Magister. Knowing that almost all Magisters graduate from a High Institute, Thipoqo immediately began his studies at the High Institute of the Arts, specializing in cartography. After his graduation, he attempted to make inroads with known Magisters in order to make a promotion more likely. Thipoqo, however, remained at the civilian level due to his youth and perceived inexperience.

Thipoqo's lifelong goal of making contact with the wider archipelago was instead achieved by Grand Magister Dimasi V'sha in 53 PC. This did not deter him in his efforts, however, and he continued to focus on his potential promotion. Believing that the Grand Council was still too xenophobic and isolationist, Thipoqo attempted to ally with Magisters who shared a similar viewpoint. In the same year, Thipoqo met his future spouse Vasa Sasqi at a Q'shasi performance. The couple began dating, marrying two years later.

Political career and rule

Within the first year of his marriage, Thipoqo's wife suggested that he begin vying for power directly instead of appealing to middlemen. Thipoqo heeded this advice and ran as an independent candidate in the election following the death of Arav Ila. He attracted an insignificant number of voters and was eliminated in the first round of elections. He would run again following the retirement of Gmr. V'sha to similar results. Aware of the statistical improbability of an independent, non-Senior Magister candidate winning an election, Thipoqo could do little but hope for miraculous circumstances if he wished to publicize his name. These circumstances would eventually arise in 66 PC with the beginning of the War Placeholder Link, as public support for Grand Magister Insi Q'so sharply declined. Thipoqo capitalized on public distaste for the conflict by founding the Amiqa Platform, the island's first true political party (a concept borrowed from the government of La Rossa). Amiqa values included amicable relations with the wider archipelago, free inter-island trade with few restrictions, and a national reduction in taxation and military spending. These promises made Thipoqo very popular with a young and war-fatigued voter base. As his popularity grew, he began delivering campaign speeches across the island's densest population centers. Thipoqo kept his public image a priority, ensuring that he appeared level-headed and reasonable compared to a mentally declining Q'so.

After the forced demotion of Insi Q'so, Thipoqo quickly established himself as the dominant candidate in the ensuing elections, having begun his campaigning months in advance. Though he was challenged by Senior Magister Imis Aris, a subordinate of Grand Magister Loqa Pili, Thipoqo won the 69 PC Magisterial election, becoming the first non-Senior Magister candidate to do so since 70 TT.

Notable bills

The following is a list of notable bills proposed by Thipoqo during his rule as Grand Magister.

Date	Description	Outcome	Notes
69 PC	Formally end the ongoing T'vaqi radio communications blackout imposed during the War Placeholder Link.	Passed (3-0)