Greetings sibboleth,
You've nicknamed him well. "King PO". With a nickname like that, as well as the persona to earn the name, it doesn't surprise me he's the tyrant he is. Show me one "elder" who's not in for the glory and power of of the title, and I'll show 100 that are. I've said it many times. The "elder" arrangement should be disbanded.
Dismembered