ID: 228

Outcome: Narrow Victory

Open After Story: Yes

Manual Prompt: Yes

Text:

Together, you pushed open the heavy doors of the Lapis Lazuli Palace, restoring the fallen kingdom.



Soon enough, King Sirshana began ruling in his own fashion: He dreamed of ruling through sheer might alone. Soldiers earned rank through mortal combat. The kingdom thrived on constant war. Only the bloodthirsty could rise high in this realm.



You protested these... if they could even be called policies. But he would not listen. "I lived for revenge all these years," he scoffed. "Now that I've taken what's mine, even my father would be satisfied. But can't I rule as I please? Besides, had the Sultan's father not interfered, I'd have been king years ago! I might have made things even more interesting!"



So he built the grandest arena the world had ever seen, where gladiators came to die. He promised the first gladiator to survive all matches would be granted one wish...



"This is madness!" you warned. "Who knows what they might demand? A king cannot make such promises!"



But Sirshana reveled in it, lounging in his embroidered cloak high above the bloodshed.



Two years later, a champion emerged, the one who had slaughtered all opponents. Kneeling before the king, he claimed his prize: "I beg the honor to cross blades with Your Majesty. They say before becoming king, you were the greatest Roaming Swordsman of our age."



You rose to rebuke the man, but Sirshana only laughed. Tossing his cloak to you, he grabbed a sword and leapt into the pit!



What followed was the cruelest duel - two men fighting not for crown or cause, but simply because they wanted to prove who was the better fighter!.



At the end, both blades found their marks, piercing deep as fountains of blood arced before the roaring crowd. You could bear no more, vaulting into the arena, screaming for the imperial physician.



Dying in your arms, Sirshana smiled as he whispered his last words:



"Told you... I was never meant to be king... should have let you rule from the start..."



He died.



Twenty days later, as High Lord and named heir, you took the throne for yourself.

References

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