I know the "Former Ruler" is a Gimmick, but can we redesigned his Story for a Quest?
He told us his Story, we ask him where his Kingdom was, and he says "Right from Bulgan near the Lake"
Queststart "Search near the Lake by Bulgan".
You found an abandoned Village and a rotten Wooden Castle, you can rebuilt both, but you need a lot of Wood and Money and Time.
You Travel to the Guildmaster from Bulgan and talk to him that you need some Worker to rebuilt a Village and Castle. Thats costs around 50000 or 100000, and it takes 3 Weeks.
After 3 Weeks you must hire People for your Villages, you can ask Travelling Farmers if they love to start a new Life in your Village, they can agree or disagree. You need for a working Village arround 50 People, if they agree you must pay for each Farmerparty 5000 and Escort each Party to your Village.
After that you can return to the "Former Ruler" and tell him what you did, he is impressed and asks you if he can spend his Evenings as a Village Elder.
Quest complete.
Rewards: working Village and a Wooden Castle.