The Kings of Death
The Kings, of Death
It is said, that the stones of Orillas tell a terrible tale. The stones tell that many years ago there once lived three kingdoms on the black continent. Each kingdom was different, each kingdom was flawed, and eventually, all three kingdoms died. But the stones tell that how these kingdoms fell was not because of famine or disease, but of three kings. These kings are known as the Kings of Death, and the stones tell of their story.
Long ago, before ships sailed the vast seas of Dracicanna, there were three human kingdoms on Orillas. The first was the Kingdom of Varucia, full of Nobles, and Thieves. In Varucia you either were born to power, or you stole it from one who was born to power. The second was the Kingdom of Orentias, a kingdom of war mongers and soldiers. Here power and the ability to rule came from leading armies into conflict and into war. The last kingdom was the Kingdom of Kardura, a kingdom full of scribes and liars. In Kardura it was customary to learn all you can, even if it meant the art of framing and lying.
However, the stones tell that the rulers of the three kingdoms, died and that the sons were to take the thrown. Before the sons were crowned, each one demanded extreme obedience and loyalty and that the people meet their demands. The son of Varucia demanded that all the nobles and people who lived in his kingdom present him with their most valuable jewels, even if he had to kill them for it. The son of Orentias demanded that all the soldiers and generals would plead undying loyalty to him, and those that did not were swiftly executed. Lastly, the son of Kardura demanded that all mentions of any other king or ruler be struck from the records and that all information would be credited to him, otherwise he would unleash the darkest of secrets of those who did not.
So it was that the three sons were crowned, and that the three became king. But it was not enough for them, for the stones tell of their deeds in the shadows. Varucia began to dig deep secret caverns and tunnels underneath the three kingdoms, in the attempt to steal the wealth from the three. Kardura black mailed the other two kingdoms into revealing their hidden records, destroying any mention of secret plots or deeds related to the death of his father. Orentias however plotted deep and hard, amassing his troops for war. So it was that the troops of Orentias marched on the war path, seeking to claim all three kingdoms as his own.
Orentias struck first at Varucia, the kingdom was full of Nobles and pickpockets, and surely they would not be a threat to an army? But the citizens of Varucia proved him wrong, for they had hidden in the tunnels beneath Varucia. The king of Varucia then ordered his citizens to not let any of these troops escape, knowing that many had mastered the art of assassination. So one by one, the troops of Orentias thinned as they tried to find the people of Varucia and were eventually all slaughtered.
He cursed the king of Varucia for destroying his troops, but the king of Orentias did not give up, for he sent his troops to Kardura next. Surely Scholars would pose no threat to soldiers, hardened by the art of war. Kardura also had a trick up their sleeve as these scholars unveiled ancient relics, buried underneath the very soil of Orillas. These relics hummed with power beyond the arcane, opening rifts into the Zhultanic plane. The scholars’ summoned demons upon the troops of Orentias, and the king of Kardura lead the demons with his own relics, slaughtering the troops quickly before the demons eventually died.
The denial of an easy conquest troubled the king of Orentias, and he sat at his war table with a troubled brow. But he hatched a scheme so cunning, that not even the sons of Varucia and Kardura could see through. So it was, that the king of Orentias sent summons to both of the kings. He congratulated the two kings on being able to defeat his soldiers, and invited them to his kingdom for a grand celebration and the hopes of peace. While the two kings were not fools, they knew that if they refused they would once again be onset with the drums of war. So they accepted and brought all of their loyal citizens with them. So it was that the three kingdoms met at Orentias, for a grand celebration.
There were drinks, food, dancers, and all the frivolities that a kingdom could bare to bring at the celebration. Surprised at the amount there was, the two kings set their fears aside and joined the king of Orentias on the podium before the masses. Not soon, as the red moon filled the sky did the king of Orentias raise his goblet. Every citizen of every kingdom found their own and so too did the sons of the other kingdoms. The king of Orentias had each goblet filled with special liquor, straight from the royal reserves and raised a toast. As they all drank, the king of Orentias grinned. The liquor was poisoned.
If he would not have the rule of all three kingdoms, then no one will. That was the grand plan of the king of Orentias and soon all the citizens convulsed, clutching their chests as the poison burned their insides. All except the other two kings, who had drank strong anti-venom before the gathering. The three kings watched as their loyal citizens died before them. And when the last citizen died the three kings drew blades on each other. They bickered and they argued and they spat at each other, before they attacked. Each blade was tipped with poison, and each blade found their mark. And so it was that each king slowly died. The last to fall was the king of Orentias. He clutched the bloody wounds the two swords had left. As he died, upon his final breath were these words.
“I rule not in life, but in death, for I join my servants in the afterlife. No longer will I be a king of life. Now I am a King . . . of Death.”