Karl Draven
3
2The Great Ruler...
Before his reign started as the great ruler, he was a prince of a small and relatively unknown kingdom, born into a continent where power was divided among countless realms. Kingdoms fought over borders, merchant leagues fought over trade, ancient courts competed for influence, and city-states constantly changed allegiance whenever doing so promised greater security or wealth.
He grew up watching neighboring rulers treat smaller nations as disposable pieces on a political bboar and became personal when his homeland was invaded and destroyed due to the corruption inside their military and political defenses.
His kingdom had begged neighboring powers for assistance, but none came. Other rulers ignored their plea as their kingdom offered them nothing in return. His homeland fell, its government collapsed, and its people were scattered.
He survived the destruction, but carried a hatred not towards an enemy, but for the system that had made their collapse inevitable.
Rather than dedicate his life to reclaiming his old kingdom, he began gathering survivors around himself.
Soldiers followed him because he could lead them.
Scholars followed him because he listened to them. Merchants supported him because he understood the importance of stable trade.
Common people joined him because he promised something greater than another cycle of war.
His first campaigns were small.
He reclaimed his homeland, defeated the forces occupying it, and rebuilt its cities. But unlike the conquerors before him, he did not massacre those who had fought against him. Soldiers who surrendered were offered service. Local rulers who submitted were allowed to retain authority beneath his laws. Populations that had resisted him were given the opportunity to become citizens of his growing realm.
Overtime, his goal shifted into conquering nearby townsfolk, villages and even clans while still giving the same prophecy. He conquered everyone, and and reign over all the lands
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