Mad King Elias

The sad tale of Mad King Elias. Do you wish to hear it ser?

A king with all the riches a man could desire, a kingdom of great prosperity and home to a happy people. But within him lived the flame of jealousy, and it gave birth to the great inferno that consumes many a man: greed. He kept his monster hidden away within his royal garb but it became unchained one day when a strange man of the Arcane arts appeared before him in his Court and swept his wide, pointed hat from his head with a flourish, bringing down a rain of stars and color.

"Great King Elias of the Brightwood, I am Magister Arcturus the Universal, for none have a grasp of the Arcane quite as I do."

Elias was roused from his throne at the display and proclaimed, "For what purpose do you appear in my Court, Magister?"

And the Magister cast out the words that would rouse the great beast of Greed from its slumber and unchain it at last from the heart of King Elias: "I bring with me news of a mystical tower, a place where the coveted Strange Arcane gathers, and I wish to bequeath its location to you, sire. You are a ruler most just, most kind and most honorable, and are most deserving of such a place. The tower has within it the amazing property of bestowing upon he who enters the knowledge all kings seek: power and wealth that spills past borders and marches onward into time eternal. You, King Elias, have it within your heart to lead not only this land, but all that border it, and all that border those lands to prosperity. If you and yours would allow this Magister the privilege of showing you it."

Elias accepted, the formless monstrosity within his heart salivating at such a prospect. His own magisters were skeptical, and so too were his bards and scribes, for the Strange was a dark corner in the Arcane, where few men ventured and fewer returned unchanged. Still, the desperate King tossed aside the warnings and followed Arcturus to this mystic tower and gazed in wonder upon its facade.

"Mighty King Elias of the Brightwood, within lies your destiny," proclaimed Arcturus, and with the same flourish of stars and colors he threw open the door to the tower and beckoned Elias to cross its threshold.

And as all tales go ser, King Elias found within not the power he had so desperately wished for, and the sin of Greed that festered within him withered and died. Mad cackles and hysteric sobs rang from the tower, and to this day they continue ser. No man has seen nor heard of Arcturus since, save the most trusted Knight of Elias, who was told by Magister Arcturus, coldly and quietly, "Within lies the destiny of all men, Knight, and I have pulled aside the veil before your King's eyes. It would seem he too could not fathom what laid beyond."

No one knows what lies beyond that veil ser, only that the tower still cackles and sobs today. The Kingdom of the Brightwood has long since given way to those that bordered it, and poor Mad King Elias is none the wiser. Or perhaps he is ser, perhaps that is why he weeps. If only I knew why it was he cackled.