#4. Lord Vraxx

Lore

The Despotic

Lord Vraxx we adore thee. So strong and smart and great.
Don't shoot or fry or jail us. Don't crush or immolate.
Don't chop us into pieces. Don't throw us in the bay.
We're loyal, true and faithful. You're looking great today.

– 241st stanza of the Vraxxian Imperial Anthem


"Now, Lance Starchampion, I've beaten you at laser sword dueling, just as I have beaten you at everything else. But I will keep you alive long enough to witness my final victory."

– Lord Vraxx

As the story goes...

Vraxx's father was Governor-Tyrant of the Ice Planet Roldakk-9, and young Vraxx spent his childhood like most Zhaktari noblespawn—in a vat. As a cadet pilot in the Zhaktar Academy for Conquest and Subjugation, he excelled in space dogfighting, spacedog fighting, judging the weak, and planetary immolation.

As a young warlord, Vraxx destroyed Roldakk for harboring his childhood piano teacher, and soon built an impressive empire through fear, intimidation, brilliant space combat, and fear. However, Vraxx's extraordinary military prowess was always undermined by overconfidence, grandstanding, gloating, unworkable revenge plots, and general self-indulgence. He vaporized one planet because he didn't like the color of their beaches, and disintegrated so many ill-performing generals that the rank of lieutenant colonel became known as 'the sweet spot.'

In Valhalla, Vraxx's naked ambition and unremitting scheming is reassuringly constant. He is contemptuous of heroes who are not royalty, and only Nai, Bodvar, Hattori and Orion are worthy of direct address. Vraxx's most prized possession is everything he owns so no touching.

Connections

• Caspian disguised himself as Vraxx for an entire tournament—a tournament Vraxx was in
• He doesn't care about the "pathetic earthling's" (possibly Sentinel) ramblings about golem rights
• Mirage stole the Scythe of Horus from a one-eyed alien (possibly Vraxx)
• Thatch aids in Vraxx's schemes to conquer Valhalla 

Context

Lord Vraxx is the only alien legend currently in Valhalla, so any historical context connected with him would have to be focused on the history of the sci-fi genre. When we talk about large-headed, one-eyed, despotic aliens with colorful suits, bubble helmets, and ray guns, we imagine a certain sub-genre of sci-fi. It goes by several names: raypunk, retrofuturistic, and raygun gothic. Flash Gordon, Spaceman Spiff from the Calvin & Hobbes comic strip, and the original Star Trek series are all considered part of this sub-genre, and Vraxx's design and lore are clearly inspired by this.

There are also some references to the most famous sci-fi phenomenon ever: Star Wars. The references to Lance Starchampion, laser swords, vaporizing planets, and killing off generals are likely inspired by the original Star Wars trilogy.

Blasters and rocket lance are suitable weapons of choice for an outer space character. The genre is not called "raygun gothic" for nothing. Blasters, rayguns, same thing, right? The rocket lance is easy to see as a weapon that can feature advanced space technology.