                                    CAMPAIGN
                         -      "The Cruel King"      -
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                                    by Gogoud  


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       -   Introduction:  -
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	Night came,though king, instead of going to sleep, was walking through the castle. He was thinking about his friend baron, whose peasants were complaining about crops and were afraid of incoming winter. He came up with many solutions, but there was no ideal one. He really cared about peasants' happiness, and he had some bad experience drawn from making snap decisions.
While he was walking through next hall thinking, he heard someone's voice. He realised he standed right next to his son's bedroom.

- Dad, why aren't you asleep yet?

That was thing he liked best in prince.
Prince called him 'dad', surprising those, who found "father" more matching word.

- That should be my question, son. You start your combat training early in the morning.
- Yes, i know. I just can't sleep. Can you stay with me for a while?
	
King got distracted. What could prince mean? 

- Fine, i'll stay, till you fall asleep.

...

	King, sitting by prince's bed, started to think about his problems again. There was another one waiting in line: why had nanny fallen her duty and left the boy alone, before he felt asleep? Monarch rejected from negative thoughts and looked at son, realising he still hasn't been sleeping.

- Dad, i heard our motherland wasn't always peaceful. There was other monarch. He is said to have been evil.

King opened his eyes widely. How did his son get to know about such things? Nobody mentioned it. People tried to forget the torment, which his country suffered from a few years ago(before he reigned). And the most important - why was prince asking right now?

- Yes, that's true - king answered, gasping - do you want me to tell you this story?

He didn't want to ask this question, it just came out from his mouth. But prince understood question too well.		

Prince sat on his bed, opened his eyes even wider than father had.

- Tell me, tell me, please! I'm grown enough to know such things, as our motherland's past.

King looked at his eight years old son, gasping again. In fact it was the queen who decided about childrearing, he was taking care of education. Sometimes they wondered if their son hadn't grown too fast. He was interested in things he shouldn't care about, at least for some time.

- well, son. What you're going to hear is awful. I will tell you about suffering, sorrow and hatred, about courage, bravery and loyality, about events, that I hope will never happen again.  Listen carefully, because it's late, and you should be asleep by now.

King took a deep breath and started the tale...





King's tale:
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	Many moons ago our kingdom was reigned by wise and just king.



After his early death Rudolf took reins. He was nothing like his predecessor, as he was  vain, egoistic and for these reasons not popular, really. King Rudolf loved luxury. He loved good food, clothes. He kept well-trained, strong and numerous army. How could king of such a small country afford to live like that? Of course, he raised taxes, tiring the poorest inhabitants
Our story begins small seaside city by the south-west country border. That time I was a commander of small knight division, which was to protect peasants from barbarians harassing the kingdom. Someday, which turned out to be the one which completely changed my life, tax collector came to the city. He was going to collect taxes for king, like every month. It was obvious he was not an ordinary officer: lofty, sitting on horse with the ornamental sword strapped to the waist. After collecting money he informed inhabitants, that taxes will be raised twice from next month. The information meant that construction of  watchtowers, necessary to defend border from barbarians, cannot be finished.
	The peasants' reaction was predictible. Some started to murmur, some were shouting, rubbing king's injustice in.
One of inhabitants (also - my good friend), started to shiver with anger. Five days before his wife was seriously wounded during the fight with barbarians. Because of extensive wounds she died, leaving Marin and three sons alone. Realizing that Martins anger is going to explode at any moment, I tried to negotiate with the officer, asking him to let us leave some of the money to finish the fortifications constructions. 

He laughed at me.

Martin couldn't stand this. He striked at officer with his fists. Officer was prepared. One sword's slash  and I lost my friend. Unbearable silence came to  the market.
It didn't last for long, in fact. The sons of Martin: Peter, Curt and Stephan surrounded officer, screaming. The horse paniced and the officer fell  from his seat. Heavy armor didn't let him to wake up, what was used by brothers to send him to eternity.




That event caused the pile of problems, that claimed many innocent victims.