For the first time since the reign of the Emperors, one man ruled Caladria. This man was King Harlus the Great. He was a just ruler and popular with the masses. Through the fierce loyalty of her people and the military brilliance of her king, Swadia was expanded until she contained the entire known world. This mighty empire endured for many generations, that is, until the reign of King Harlus the Mad. The king was overly fond of his pleasures, be they his drinks, his parties, or his women. For a certainty, he lacked the political aptitude to keep a kingdom together and had accrued monetary debt with many of the high lords. It was at a time when rebellion seemed almost certain that Logan Imperium was appointed the Chancellor of the Realm to speak with the king’s voice and act with his authority. The chancellor was the younger brother of Kenneth Imperium, one of the mighty dukes with a diminishing patience for the folly of the mad king. Over the years that followed this appointment, the kingdom was re-stabilized to a certain degree. Debts were repaid and the majority of the nobility were content to remain if not loyal then at least willing subjects of Swadia. The kingdom may have indeed survived to be destroyed by the king’s son, if not for Duke Decimus. Whether the duke was acting out of a sense of riotousness or ambition is not and may never be clear. What is clear is the result of his actions, war in Caladria.
Duke Decimus conspired to kill the king and the royal family. In order for his plan to succeed, however, he needed the support of Commander Beowulf of the Kingsgaurd. The Kingsgaurd were an elite fighting force that served as the personal army and protectors of the king. More to the point, they were the only soldiers allowed inside Harlusburg, capital of the realm. The king was killed in his own throne room by the Kingsgaurd, who have been lovingly christened by the common folk the Punishers of the Turncoat King. Once he received word of the king’s demise, Duke Decimus marched his forces into Harlusburg. The former Kingsgaurd made no attempt to stop him as he entered the city, nor did they as he secured the keep and palace complex. This put the city in an uproar. Panic was spreading as rumors flew concerning the fate of the king, his family, and foreign troops entering the city. When riots were starting to breakout in some of the lower city districts, the chancellor emerged from the keep to put their fears to rest. He informed them of the death of the Mad King at the hands of the Kingsgaurd and the regrettable loss of his family. He then informed the people that Duke Decimus was there at his request to help ensure a smooth transition of power. He also announced who would fill the office of regent until such a time as a kingsmeet were convened and a new king chosen. The popular Master Unicorn had been appointed regent. He was owner of an expansive trade network and master of ceremonies at the games and tournaments held in Harlusburg. Beloved of both the common and the highborn Master Unicorn was uniquely suited for the office of regent. Along with his appointment to office he was granted lordship with the sigil of his house to be a unicorn in honor of his stage name. Despite the relatively smooth transition of power in Harlusburg, things did not turn out quite so well in other duchies.
Many resented the appointment of a regent and believed that they should be king through one claim or another. Within a matter of days, all the duchies save that of Duke Decimus were in open rebellion. Surrounded by traitors on all sides the regent made Commander Beowulf lord of many strategically important castles to make use of his military skill and highly trained forces, which would come to better use on the vastly shrunken borders of Swadia than sitting in the heart of her territory. In light of the uprising, Master Unicorn moved his seat to a heavily fortified castle overlooking Harlusburg to preemptively forestall any assassination plots.
And so it began…
