Professor Ulysses Vitruvius is a figure of considerable mystery and influence, the long-time coordinator of the Underground in Santa Ana. He is from Atlantis, a fact that initially makes Amelia wary of him, but Knossa Oligaris reveals that he does not actually hate Antemidians. His funding keeps the Underground afloat, which is both a blessing and a curse—the institution cannot accept Antemidia’s deal without risking his displeasure.
Taisuke gathers information about Vitruvius for Amelia, sending her ten texts with details about his role. He is described as a close friend of Knossa Oligaris, the Underground’s founder, and his financial backing is essential to the community’s survival. Darren Klar explains that the Underground cannot charge tuition because most members are poor merpeople who have moved to land and cannot find suitable employment—so they rely on Vitruvius’s funds.
Vitruvius has no on‑page presence and no dialogue; he is a background force, a patron whose money supports the community but whose allegiances are ambiguous. His Atlantean origins make him a potential threat or a potential ally, and Amelia’s interactions with Knossa are colored by her uncertainty about his intentions. He represents the hidden power structures that underpin even the most benevolent institutions, and his willingness to fund the Underground suggests a more complicated relationship with Antemidia than his origins would imply.
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