The year XCIII marked the fall of our Kingdom's greatest ruler. King Xavier Prospertus, the last of the Prospertus Dynasty, whose name had been etched in the annals of history, was no more. A king of unparalleled ambition and strength, he had led us through five victorious campaigns, expanding our borders to encompass two islands, each one a testament to his prowess. He was a king who not only vanquished the greed that plagued our lands but also raised our people from the depths of famine and despair. The name "Prospertus" itself spoke of prosperity, a tribute to the Rune Stones he discovered and used to awaken the Temple of Scythe and Prosperity, ensuring our survival in times of strife.
Yet, as all great stories go, even the mightiest kings meet their end. King Xavier's thirst for conquest led him to the shores of the third island, where he faced an ambush by the greed beneath the scarlet moon. He fought valiantly, drawing their attention to himself so that the rest of us might escape. But the cost was great—the king fell, and with him, the last vestiges of a once-glorious dynasty.
It is in the shadow of this loss that I find myself, Child Oxford, chosen by the crown. I am the 15th to wear this mantle, a burden I did not seek but will bear for the sake of our people. Though I doubt I will ever rise to the greatness of my predecessor, I will do what I can to carry on his work and honor his legacy. The crown, the last vestige of humanity's glory, has chosen me, and I am bound to it by a fate I neither asked for nor can deny.
The survivors of the last campaign—the squires, the soldiers who once marched beneath Xavier's banner—are now but shadows of their former selves. Squire Telltale, a great soldier and the fourth in command of the five squires, was one of the first to speak to me. He recounted the horrors of the battle, the ambush, the portals of the greed that sprang forth beneath the ruby moon. He spoke of how the greed released giants and jackals, creatures beyond any nightmares, and of how, in their desperation, they looked to the heavens for divine intervention only to be met by the ghastling greed that flew above, raining destruction.
Despite the losses, Xavier succeeded in acquiring seven Rune Stones, enough to activate the War Temple and the Temple of Fortitude. But it was not enough to save him. Realizing the futility of his own survival, Xavier used the crown to draw the greed's attention to himself, ensuring that the others could escape. And escape they did, but at the cost of his life and the fall of the last great kingdom.
With no time for mourning, I, Child Oxford, have taken it upon myself to rebuild not just the kingdom but the hearts of those who remain. The soldiers, once great, are now but shells of the warriors they were. The trauma they carry weighs heavily on them. It is said that when a soldier falls to the greed, they lose their sense of purpose. Their memories, their identities, are eroded by the corruption that seeps into their very souls.
It is my task, then, to restore them. I spent this day ensuring that the survivors—Banquan the Steadfast, Simeon the Black, Axford of the Catapult Party, and Chankin, the Kingdom's Hammer—find their purpose once again. We are a kingdom that has lost much, but we are not yet lost. There is still work to be done.
The day was spent not in war, but in quiet restoration. I took from the royal vault, the gold once stored by King Xavier for his successors, and began distributing it to those who had lost their livelihoods. The kingdom is struggling—there are holes in our workforce, and many are left unemployed. I would see them put to work, to rebuild what was broken, to give them a reason to rise again. It is a small gesture, perhaps, but it is a start. And a start is all we need.
As I lay my pen down for the night, I reflect on the weight of the crown I now bear. It is a heavy burden, yes, but one that must be carried. Tomorrow, I shall continue the work. The soldiers, the workers, the kingdom—all must be restored to their former glory, or at the very least, their former purpose. For King Xavier's legacy, for the crown, and for humanity's last hope.