Chaotic Century Anime Characters
| Rudolph Gerhardt Zeppelin III | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dub Name: | None |
| Affiliation: | Guylos Empire |
| Rank: | Emperor |
| Appeared: | Episode 18 |
| Rel. Chars: |
Emperor Zeppelin (Grandfather) |
| Zoid(s): |
Shield Liger BS Storm Sworder AS Saber Tiger Royal Spec. Command Wolf IS LRR Sinker MS |
Introduction
Rudolph is the young emperor of the Guylos Empire. He rose to power after his grandfather passed away, but competed with Regent Prozen's sinister plans.
- Featured In Episodes
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 43 4548 53 59 60 61 62 66 67
Items
Imperial Ring
Rudolph carries the Imperial Ring with him, a symbol of the heir of the Guylos Empire. It was eventually lost to Metternich and his men.
History
First Appearance, Episode 18
Though devastated by his grandfather's passing, Rudolph made his first action to declare a ceasefire against the Republic, which the Empire was engaged in active war with. He broadcast this message not just locally, but also across the monitors of the Zoids engaged in active combat. There was no denying, for anyone, that a ceasefire had been called. This forced Prozen's hand, requiring him to return to the Empire.
Kidnapping, Episode 19
While preparing for his grandfather's funeral, Rosso and Viola broke into the palace, kidnapping Rudolph. This inadvertently saved him, as had it been just a little later, he'd have been traveling with only two guards when an assassin team would've targeted him and framed the Republic for his murder.
Exchange, Episode 20
Though Rudolph tried to escape his captors there was really nowhere to go. They were in a desert. He could walk until he collapsed, but Rosso would just bring him back after he'd tired himself out. Eventually, the bandit decided to exchange him to Metternich's people, who planned to kill him. His conviction to do so faltered when he came to respect just how determined Rudolph could be. In a confusing chain of events, Rosso threw the brief case of money, rigged with explosives, back at the assassins who were trying to kill them both then snatched Rudolph and fled in the Iron Kong.
Death of the Shield Liger, Episode 22
After getting lost and bumping into Bang's group, Rudolph asked Bang and his friends to take him to Guygalos, which they agreed to. While they were traveling, Bang even taught him a bit about piloting a Zoid, even if his first experience was running the Shield Liger off a cliff. Later, they discovered downed Redlers and Rudolph realized that Prozen was having Raven kill the very search parties he was sending out allegedly for Rudolph's benefit. Fearful of what'd happen to his new friends, Rudolph tried to run away. Though they tried to stop him he was soon kidnapped by Shadow, Raven's Organoid. This drew Bang into a battle that resulted in the Shield Liger's death, which Rudolph felt directly responsible for.
Escape, Episode 23
With no further use for Rudolph, Raven turned him over to Metternich, only for him to realize that Rudolph no longer had the imperial ring. He arranged to meet with Bang, but a ferocious chase broke out between the two groups. At one point Rudolph even threatened to throw the ring into the river if they didn't let them go, but a few more catches and escapes later, Irvine's Command Wolf downed both of the enemy Dark Horns. Rudolph let them go, urging Metternich to tell Prozen that he was coming back to claim what was his.
Stinger, Episode 24 ~ 25
Though Irvine saved Rudolph from being paralyzed by Stinger's poisoned food, the kid couldn't fight an adult by himself. The group was tied up, but Stinger hadn't known Dr. D was in the evolution cocoon. He and Metternich were knocked out just long enough to untie the others, and Rudolph tried to fight Stinger's Saber Tiger in the Command Wolf, but was promptly shot down. Thankfully, Bang's newly-evolved Blade Liger saved the day.
The Baron of Wings, Episode 29
When the group ended up near Ebenei Air Base, they were attacked by Ralph's Redler unit. Rudolph hailed the base, asking them to stand down. Though Schwarz realized he was the real prince, Ralph decided to back the imposter narrative due to the massive upgrades Prozen had provided the base. They were saved by Rosso and Viola, disguised as masked heroes piloting Storm Sworders.
Return, Episode 32
On the last stretch of road to Guygalos the group was stopped by an Imperial Army unit. It turned out to be Homalev, who instantly recognized Rudolph and brought the group back to Homalev Castle. When Rudolph asked him about their quest for Zoid Eve, Homalev gave them a lead, which Bang and Fine snuck away in the night to follow. However, Rudolph was intent on getting to Guygalos before Prozen could be properly placed as the new emperor. This plan was interrupted when Hardin, one of Prozen's soldiers, surrounded Homalev Castle and announced that Homalev was to be executed for allegedly trying to instate an 'imposter.'
Fight To Freedom, Episode 33
When Irvine brought up fighting through the enemy crowd, Homalev revealed that they had a Royal Saber Tiger at the castle. He took the controls to help them fight, but his piloting was far too cautious. Rudolph urged him to hand over control of the Saber, and when he did, thanks to Bang teaching him how to pilot a Zoid, they made much better progress.
Reclamation of the Throne, Episode 34
They reached a stand still due to the number of enemy forces and were rescued by the Storm Sworders. While Rosso fought off their pursuing enemies, Viola rushed Rudolph to the capital, where he interrupted Prozen's coronation. This didn't make much difference. Prozen had brought the Death Saurer with him, and once it launched from the stage, intent on destroying the 'rebels' it was an all-out war. Rudolph joined his supporters and his allies, piloting the Royal Saber into battle alongside them. He was more than willing to fight for his country, and with the support of both armies and the friends who'd helped him return home, they were able to bring down Prozen's Death Saurer.
With Guygalos now saved, Rudolph took his rightful place as Emperor, while most of his friends stood on the sidelines to support him. All except for Bang and Fine, who continued their search for Zoid Eve.
Guardian Force
First Introduction As Emperor, Episode 35
Rudolph was finding his footing as an Emperor at this point, and was keeping close tabs on a threat that'd attacked an important military unit, then escaped into Republican territory. He promptly notified the Republic's president about this incoming threat. Soon after, he and President Camford established the Guardian Force, a joint effort between their two nations intended to hunt down rebels using Zoids for nefarious means.
Holiday, Episode 43
While on holiday with his fiancee, Mary-Anne, Rudolph was kidnapped by Albert and Ross, then held captive by Stinger. He was tied to a pole with Stinger's Saber Tiger's blade at his back as a threat to keep Bang from attacking. However, he dared to chance it, defeating the Saber Tiger and rescuing Rudolph.
Storm Sworder Stealth Battle, Episode 45
Rudolph accompanied Rosso and Viola to handle the two Storm Sworder Stealth units stolen from Dragonhead Base. He was in the second seat of Rosso's Storm Sworder, but doesn't typically do much to help in these situations.
Summit Meeting, Episode 48
Rudolph traveled to a location to meet with the president of the Republic for a summit meeting. However, she never showed up, and they soon learned that her airship had been commandeered. She was held captive inside of Thoma's stolen Dibison by Ambient, who lead a unit of Gun Snipers to attack Rudolph's location. The situation quickly grew dire, because if Rudolph ordered a counterattack he ran a very real risk of killing a political leader. He refrained, even as the building began collapsing around him. Thankfully, Irvine arrived in the new state-of-the-art Lightning Saix, and single-handedly defeated the entire unit without hurting the president.
The Phantom, Episode 53
When Rudolph heard that an assassin may target him at the Guylos Grand Prix, he still insisted on going to the event. It was tradition for the emperor to begin the celebrations every year. They developed a plan for Rudolph's place to be taken by a hologram, while Rudolph himself took part in the race as an unknown Sinker pilot referred to as Masquerade. Throughout the race he followed right in Moonbay's slipstream, mirroring her progress. In the final lap she clipped her wing on the side of the track, creating engine problems in her Sinker. 'Masquerade' took this opportunity to circle around her. Just as Phantom, the assassin targeting Rudolph was apprehended, Rudolph was winning the 77th Guylos Grand Prix.
New Helic Evacuation, Episode 59
When President Camford found out that Hiltz was heading to New Helic City, Rudolph reached out and offered the support of the Guylos Empire. Not only was he prepared to take in any refugees fleeing the city but he also mobilized reinforcements from Guylos to help hold the Republic capital. Karl Schwarz was sent among them, leading the 1st Armored Division in the city's defense.
The Gravity Cannon, Episode 61
Homalev and Rudolph visited one of the development facilities for the Gravity Cannon, getting their first look at all the work that'd gone into it. When the base was attacked by Black Redlers and Stealth Vipers, a sizable army of them sent by Hiltz they were certain they'd need to abandon the weapon. Thankfully, they were saved by Rosso and Viola.
The Valley of the Rare Hertz, Episode 66
Rudolph traveled to the Valley of the Rare Hertz with an entire fleet of Whale Kings, fully intending to provide military support to their unified battle against Hiltz and the Dark Kaiser.
Support, Episode 67
After the Death Saurer suppressed the hyper gravity field created by the Gravity Cannon, using it to create a lens that could divide and fire its particle cannon all over the planet, many of those involved momentarily lost hope of fighting back at all. Rudolph mobilized the forces of Guylos in Eveopolis, trying to put up some kind of defensive line. The Death Saurer simply marched through their attacks like they were nothing. Even Rudolph felt that it was ten times more powerful than the previous Death Saurer they'd fought. A subsequent blast wiped out a significant portion of his Whale King fleet, and Rudolph himself was nearly injured by the resulting shockwaves. In the end, the Death Saurer was defeated, and he presumably returned to his role as Emperor.
Gallery
