Stats

KB: 74, Rooms: 5, Objects: 75, Tasks: 352, Events: 2, Characters: 0

Introduction

... a cold and dark place...

Ah, peace and quiet at last. It feels good just to lie there and relax, put your feet up (or along anyway, it being a bit cramped in your current location to do anything but just assume a rigid posture) and just lie and do… nothing. Nothing at all.

'I could get used to this,' you think. 'Dark and a bit dank; probably smelly; not very warm (I'm guessing); but peaceful. Oh so peaceful. Makes such a nice change to-'

And then your peaceful relaxation came to an abrupt end as your sarcophagus was cranked open. You'd have complained at the time but on account of being dead your complaint options were somewhat limited. Later on, when your vocal chords had recovered enough to allow you to shout, you shouted. You really shouted. You let them feel the full brunt of your anger. You cursed them for all eternity. You threatened to send them to a horrible, painful, miserable, loathsome death. And they said:

"Ah, Your Highness. It is good to have you back."

"But I was dead!" you try to explain.

"Indeed, Your Highness," intones Verenor, your High Chancellor. "And we have brought you back."

"But how?" You shake your head, dislodging several maggots which are still desperately trying to cling to your recently restored flesh. "But… why?"

"These are grave times, Your Highness," says Verenor, face solemn and concerned. He stands with the rest of the Chancellors in your apartments in the Royal Palace. "The highland barbarians are massing on the western borders; the pygmies have attacked our merchants passing through the wastelands of the south; the pirates have taken a toll on our shipping; and, perhaps worst of all, the depredations of the foul assassin Gadrian are making themselves known once more."

You groan.

"He was the one who killed you, Your Highness," adds Verenor as if you might have forgotten that minor detail.

"Yes thank you, Chancellor," you say testily. "I remember him and his blade-" you rub at your neck "-only too well. But," you add, "you still haven't said just why you have brought me back. Isn't Pri- er, King Toromin," you amend hastily, "capable of ruling this fine nation of ours?"

Verenor and several of the other Chancellors glance at each other. They look solemn.

Finally, Verenor says, "Your Highness, it is with great regret that I inform you that Prince Toromin suffered an unfortunate…"

You hold your breath.

"… attack of irritable bowel syndrome several months ago and still has yet to make a full recovery."

You give a soft nod. That sounds like your son alright.

"So you brought me back," you say, not so much a question as a statement of fact. After all, you're here so it's pretty obvious they brought you back.

Verenor nods. "We did, Your Highness."

"Against my express wishes?"

Verenor has the decency to wince but he boldly says: "we asked you, Your Highness, but as you were dead at the time, no answer was forthcoming, and we debated on the subject and then decided that your silence was agreement. Hence, here you are. Ready to lead your people once more, Your Highness."

And that, it appears, is that.