CK,
imho you are attempting to understand their history by translating it into a "Imperator" equivelant to comprehend. Claudius and Nero were a far, FAR cry from the AE Kings.
They truly believed that balance was critical, and their part of maintaining this balance intrinsic to maintaining civilization as they knew it.
That's why the Intermediary period hit them so hard, something in the system had failed and if anything in the system failed, the entire system could fail.
The AE Kings wouldn't have minded a "bit part" as long as it was a CRITICAL bit part...
Jammer
